Air Transportation: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$41,061 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$41,061Median year-4 earnings
$29,472Average institution net-price context
$6,333Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Air Transportation
How much do Air Transportation undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $41,061 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $6,333. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Air Transportation?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $33,509 to $41,061 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Air Transportation?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 8 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$41,061Median reported earnings · year 4
$26,538Average reported earnings · year 5
$6,333Median federal debt
30thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
25IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
3With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 2 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,061
- Federal debt
- $6,333
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $75,637
- Federal debt
- $14,803
- Reporting programs
- 18
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,283
- Federal debt
- $24,500
- Reporting programs
- 59
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $113,161
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$33,509National median$41,06175th percentile$41,061
3 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 2 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
2 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Guilford Technical Community College$41,0612Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and TechnologyNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$232,140 median wage103,560 U.S. jobs · SOC 53-2011+8.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$106,710–$463,830 10th–90th percentileCommercial Pilots$123,220 median wage47,630 U.S. jobs · SOC 53-2012+5.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$58,850–$266,620 10th–90th percentileTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,230 median wage221,180 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3071+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 18.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$65,120–$194,900 10th–90th percentileAir Traffic Controllers$148,080 median wage22,510 U.S. jobs · SOC 53-2021+1.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$78,420–$215,610 10th–90th percentileFlight Attendants$63,580 median wage131,650 U.S. jobs · SOC 53-2031+8.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 18.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$35,110–$136,430 10th–90th percentileAirfield Operations Specialists$56,850 median wage15,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 53-2022+7.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$35,870–$102,120 10th–90th percentileFirst-Line Supervisors of Passenger AttendantsUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 53-1044NO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Jamestown, NC | $41,061 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,002 |
| 2 | Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and TechnologyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fort Pierce, FL | Not available | $16,000 | WithheldBaseline needed | $43,941 |
| 3 | L3Harris Flight AcademyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $98,631 | $5,939 | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 4 | International Air and Hospitality AcademyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $33,509 | $6,333 | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.