{
  "major": "Aviation",
  "slug": "aviation",
  "field": "Other Fields",
  "as_of": "2026",
  "url": "https://collegeranked.com/best-aviation-schools/",
  "source": "U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2026 release); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics",
  "metric_definitions": {
    "median_earnings": "Median earnings one year after graduation (Scorecard)",
    "net_price": "Average annual cost of attendance after grant aid. For PUBLIC schools this reflects IN-STATE cost; out-of-state students pay more.",
    "roi_10yr_usd": "Ten years of earnings minus four years of net price",
    "score": "CollegeRanked Score (0-100) — the composite that sets rank order; see /methodology/#score",
    "public": "true = public university (net_price is in-state basis); false = private (residency-neutral)"
  },
  "total_colleges_with_reported_data": 52,
  "shown": 52,
  "ranking": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "school": "Utah Valley University",
      "state": "UT",
      "median_earnings": 56402,
      "net_price": 6376,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 538516,
      "score": 67,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "school": "Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus",
      "state": "NM",
      "median_earnings": 88085,
      "net_price": 4904,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 861234,
      "score": 62,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "school": "University of North Texas",
      "state": "TX",
      "median_earnings": 56487,
      "net_price": 15649,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 502274,
      "score": 61,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "school": "Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide",
      "state": "FL",
      "median_earnings": 54827,
      "net_price": 18725,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 473370,
      "score": 61,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 5,
      "school": "University of Nebraska at Omaha",
      "state": "NE",
      "median_earnings": 42837,
      "net_price": 13441,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 374606,
      "score": 61,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 6,
      "school": "California State University-Los Angeles",
      "state": "CA",
      "median_earnings": 46267,
      "net_price": 3967,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 446802,
      "score": 60,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 7,
      "school": "University of North Dakota",
      "state": "ND",
      "median_earnings": 46193,
      "net_price": 18551,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 387726,
      "score": 60,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 8,
      "school": "Hallmark University",
      "state": "TX",
      "median_earnings": 79086,
      "net_price": 12513,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 740808,
      "score": 59,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 9,
      "school": "Purdue University-Main Campus",
      "state": "IN",
      "median_earnings": 45190,
      "net_price": 14600,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 393500,
      "score": 59,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 10,
      "school": "Minnesota State University-Mankato",
      "state": "MN",
      "median_earnings": 45193,
      "net_price": 19139,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 375374,
      "score": 57,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 11,
      "school": "Arizona State University Campus Immersion",
      "state": "AZ",
      "median_earnings": 44481,
      "net_price": 14967,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 384942,
      "score": 57,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 12,
      "school": "Middle Tennessee State University",
      "state": "TN",
      "median_earnings": 43909,
      "net_price": 13359,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 385654,
      "score": 56,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 13,
      "school": "Middle Georgia State University",
      "state": "GA",
      "median_earnings": 41028,
      "net_price": 12361,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 360836,
      "score": 56,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 14,
      "school": "Southern Illinois University-Carbondale",
      "state": "IL",
      "median_earnings": 44063,
      "net_price": 13297,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 387442,
      "score": 55,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 15,
      "school": "University of Alaska Anchorage",
      "state": "AK",
      "median_earnings": 40796,
      "net_price": 15301,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 346756,
      "score": 55,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 16,
      "school": "Central Washington University",
      "state": "WA",
      "median_earnings": 40025,
      "net_price": 18476,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 326346,
      "score": 55,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 17,
      "school": "Metropolitan State University of Denver",
      "state": "CO",
      "median_earnings": 43922,
      "net_price": 15327,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 377912,
      "score": 54,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 18,
      "school": "Bridgewater State University",
      "state": "MA",
      "median_earnings": 43171,
      "net_price": 16383,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 366178,
      "score": 54,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 19,
      "school": "Liberty University",
      "state": "VA",
      "median_earnings": 50629,
      "net_price": 29357,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 388862,
      "score": 53,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 20,
      "school": "Indiana State University",
      "state": "IN",
      "median_earnings": 40112,
      "net_price": 10873,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 357628,
      "score": 53,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 21,
      "school": "Ohio State University-Main Campus",
      "state": "OH",
      "median_earnings": 40102,
      "net_price": 17339,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 331664,
      "score": 53,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 22,
      "school": "Lewis University",
      "state": "IL",
      "median_earnings": 39228,
      "net_price": 17028,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 324168,
      "score": 53,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 23,
      "school": "Louisiana Tech University",
      "state": "LA",
      "median_earnings": 35669,
      "net_price": 11864,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 309234,
      "score": 53,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 24,
      "school": "Everglades University",
      "state": "FL",
      "median_earnings": 53331,
      "net_price": 27371,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 423826,
      "score": 52,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 25,
      "school": "Polk State College",
      "state": "FL",
      "median_earnings": 50499,
      "net_price": 9427,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 467282,
      "score": 52,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 26,
      "school": "Farmingdale State College",
      "state": "NY",
      "median_earnings": 41960,
      "net_price": 10867,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 376132,
      "score": 52,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 27,
      "school": "Kent State University at Kent",
      "state": "OH",
      "median_earnings": 40876,
      "net_price": 20787,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 325612,
      "score": 52,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 28,
      "school": "Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott",
      "state": "AZ",
      "median_earnings": 54827,
      "net_price": 40287,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 387122,
      "score": 50,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 29,
      "school": "Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach",
      "state": "FL",
      "median_earnings": 54827,
      "net_price": 41272,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 383182,
      "score": 50,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 30,
      "school": "Jacksonville University",
      "state": "FL",
      "median_earnings": 45875,
      "net_price": 25180,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 358030,
      "score": 50,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 31,
      "school": "Westminster University",
      "state": "UT",
      "median_earnings": 42917,
      "net_price": 27094,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 320794,
      "score": 49,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 32,
      "school": "Eastern Kentucky University",
      "state": "KY",
      "median_earnings": 35625,
      "net_price": 11040,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 312090,
      "score": 49,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 33,
      "school": "Western Michigan University",
      "state": "MI",
      "median_earnings": 34872,
      "net_price": 15273,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 287628,
      "score": 49,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 34,
      "school": "Florida Institute of Technology",
      "state": "FL",
      "median_earnings": 47019,
      "net_price": 35639,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 327634,
      "score": 47,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 35,
      "school": "University of Dubuque",
      "state": "IA",
      "median_earnings": 37362,
      "net_price": 23386,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 280076,
      "score": 45,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 36,
      "school": "Kansas State University",
      "state": "KS",
      "median_earnings": 51198,
      "net_price": 19406,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 434356,
      "score": 44,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 37,
      "school": "LeTourneau University",
      "state": "TX",
      "median_earnings": 38205,
      "net_price": 28185,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 269310,
      "score": 42,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 38,
      "school": "Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon",
      "state": "PR",
      "median_earnings": 31376,
      "net_price": 9284,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 276624,
      "score": 42,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 39,
      "school": "Oklahoma State University-Main Campus",
      "state": "OK",
      "median_earnings": 45682,
      "net_price": 17447,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 387032,
      "score": 41,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 40,
      "school": "California Baptist University",
      "state": "CA",
      "median_earnings": 48989,
      "net_price": 26285,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 384750,
      "score": 40,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 41,
      "school": "Eastern Michigan University",
      "state": "MI",
      "median_earnings": 40846,
      "net_price": 15407,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 346832,
      "score": 38,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 42,
      "school": "CUNY York College",
      "state": "NY",
      "median_earnings": 30349,
      "net_price": 4456,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 285666,
      "score": 38,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 43,
      "school": "Saint Louis University",
      "state": "MO",
      "median_earnings": 44459,
      "net_price": 24398,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 346998,
      "score": 37,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 44,
      "school": "Rocky Mountain College",
      "state": "MT",
      "median_earnings": 41588,
      "net_price": 19751,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 336876,
      "score": 36,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 45,
      "school": "University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus",
      "state": "OK",
      "median_earnings": 38652,
      "net_price": 15300,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 325320,
      "score": 36,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 46,
      "school": "University of Central Missouri",
      "state": "MO",
      "median_earnings": 38283,
      "net_price": 14462,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 324982,
      "score": 36,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 47,
      "school": "University of Maryland Eastern Shore",
      "state": "MD",
      "median_earnings": 27154,
      "net_price": 13338,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 218188,
      "score": 35,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 48,
      "school": "Delta State University",
      "state": "MS",
      "median_earnings": 32537,
      "net_price": 13540,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 271210,
      "score": 29,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 49,
      "school": "Auburn University",
      "state": "AL",
      "median_earnings": 35856,
      "net_price": 24323,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 261268,
      "score": 28,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 50,
      "school": "Utah State University",
      "state": "UT",
      "median_earnings": 33142,
      "net_price": 14936,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 271676,
      "score": 28,
      "public": true
    },
    {
      "rank": 51,
      "school": "Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology",
      "state": "NY",
      "median_earnings": 32591,
      "net_price": 39986,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 165966,
      "score": 28,
      "public": false
    },
    {
      "rank": 52,
      "school": "Bowling Green State University-Main Campus",
      "state": "OH",
      "median_earnings": 33172,
      "net_price": 24022,
      "roi_10yr_usd": 235632,
      "score": 25,
      "public": true
    }
  ]
}