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Aviation

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

This category focuses on aviation science and aeronautics. Aviation students combine flight training with meteorology, aerodynamics, and navigation to earn their pilot licenses. The path is intensely disciplined, structured, and focused on high-stakes, practical application.

What you'll do after college

Aviation graduates typically become commercial, corporate, or cargo pilots, or work in aviation operations, air traffic control, and aircraft maintenance. Pay for commercial pilots rises significantly with seniority and flight hours.

Famous graduates

  • Sully Sullenberger — Airline captain famous for the "Miracle on the Hudson"; B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$81,910
778
100–85%
$81,504
1,845
85–73%
$78,182
1,860
73–52%
$77,963
800
52–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$68,629
588
400–1070
$78,722
1,382
1070–1180
$83,730
1,316
1180–1310
$76,061
618
1330–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$57,787p10 $89,383p90 Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach · $81,939 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott · $83,508 Everglades University · $67,802 Rocky Mountain College · $78,367 Cal State Los Angeles · $55,650 Delaware State University · $68,537 Auburn University · $55,708 Ohio State University · $82,764 Texas A&M University - College Station · $115,195 CUNY York College · $53,249 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $86,237 Texas Southern University · $49,138 University of Central Missouri · $57,787 University of Hawaii at Hilo · $69,965 West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $78,713 Eastern Michigan University · $89,383 Oklahoma State University · $78,349 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $74,428 Tennessee State University · $71,218 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $75,180 Louisiana Tech University · $92,416 Ohio University · $79,590 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $68,306 University of Memphis · $76,857 University of Nebraska at Kearney · $74,549 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $97,114 Farmingdale State College · $53,760 Southeastern Oklahoma State University · $72,056 Henderson State University · $75,239 Elizabeth City State University · $54,945 Angelo State University · $78,329 Eastern Kentucky University · $71,511 Middle Tennessee State University · $74,521 Southeast Missouri State University · $71,057 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $66,574 San Jose State University · $71,788 University of North Texas · $73,216 Bowling Green State University · $76,718 Fairmont State University · $70,831 Kent State University at Kent · $81,768 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $56,145 University of North Dakota · $104,062 Western Michigan University · $77,614 Central Washington University · $79,680 Delta State University · $54,229 Indiana State University · $69,045 South Dakota State University · $80,347 Southern Utah University · $76,363 Bridgewater State University · $69,320 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $106,259 Arizona State University · $74,240 Utah State University · $101,035 Kansas State University · $92,632 Middle Georgia State University · $75,458 Utah Valley University · $85,005 Southeastern University · $72,973 Saint Louis University · $85,684 Florida Memorial University · $73,709 Baylor University · $79,805 LeTourneau University · $78,108 Walla Walla University · $77,872 Quincy University · $74,847 Charleston Southern University · $73,565 Andrews University · $77,760 Averett University · $62,019 California Baptist University · $64,870 Siena Heights University · $68,903 Lewis University · $78,377 University of Dubuque · $79,272 Marywood University · $73,799 University of Mount Olive · $74,751 Hampton University · $72,941 Jacksonville University · $71,566 Florida Institute of Technology · $76,503 Lynn University · $69,509 Purdue University · $83,933 Military: mean $77,750 Liberal Arts: mean $78,367 Public University: mean $75,374 Religious University: mean $74,770 Private University: mean $72,630 Public University 1–15: mean $83,933 All colleges: p10 $57,787 All colleges: p90 $89,383
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Aviation 87 6,013 82% / 18% 9% $77,300 96%
Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology 13 1,200 82% / 18% 10% $81,244 94%
Aviation 34 1,149 83% / 17% 4% $71,945 96%
Aviation Management 33 928 80% / 20% 4% $74,459 95%
Aeronautics 6 892 84% / 16% 18% $72,527 96%
Commercial Aviation 1 299 82% / 18% 12% $104,062 99%
Flight 2 227 78% / 22% 19% $79,902 95%
Professional Pilot 5 185 86% / 14% 3% $78,814 94%
Aeronautical Engineering Technology 2 163 90% / 10% 11% $80,272 96%
Aviation Science 6 144 74% / 26% 7% $69,863 97%
Aeronautical Management Technology 1 129 86% / 14% 3% $74,240 96%
Aviation Flight 8 128 87% / 13% 11% $73,674 95%
Aviation Technology 2 115 80% / 20% 11% $78,864 96%
Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology 1 78 95% / 5% 4%
Professional Flight 2 70 83% / 17% 0% $63,943 100%
Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 3 67 87% / 13% 0% $82,998 90%
Aviation/Airway Management and Operations 4 63 78% / 22% 5% $79,352 95%
Air Traffic Control 3 53 51% / 49% 4% $88,287 96%
Air and Space Operations Technology 1 27 74% / 26% 7% $70,262 100%
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician 2 24 79% / 21% 8% $83,652 96%
Aviation Sciences 1 22 82% / 18% 0% $78,329
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology 2 19 89% / 11% 21% $78,770 100%
Unmanned Aircraft Systems 1 17 82% / 18% 0% $104,062 99%
Air Traffic Management 1 10 60% / 40% 0% $83,508 94%
Air Transportation 3 1 100% / 0% 0% $80,976
Air Traffic Controller 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $69,590
Aviation Maintenance Technology 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $70,301
Flight Education 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $104,062 99%