Air Transportation: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$113,161 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.
$113,161Median year-4 earnings
$25,405Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$113,161Median reported earnings · year 4
$98,561Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
78thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
7Reporting programs
7With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
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$108,264National median$113,16175th percentile$113,161
7 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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of North Dakota$124,8352Purdue University-Main Campus$120,4213Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott$113,1614Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach$113,1615Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide$113,1616Lewis University$108,2647Everglades University$69,589Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSOC 53-2011 · 2 crosswalk linksCommercial PilotsSOC 53-2012 · 2 crosswalk linksTransportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersSOC 11-3071 · 2 crosswalk linksAir Traffic ControllersSOC 53-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksAirfield Operations SpecialistsSOC 53-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Passenger AttendantsSOC 53-1044 · 1 crosswalk linksFlight AttendantsSOC 53-2031 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | University of North DakotaMaster's Degree | Grand Forks, ND | $124,835 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,551 |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $120,421 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,600 |
| 3 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottMaster's Degree | Prescott, AZ | $113,161 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,287 |
| 4 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachMaster's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $113,161 | Not available | Baseline needed | $41,272 |
| 5 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideMaster's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $113,161 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,725 |
| 6 | Lewis UniversityMaster's Degree | Romeoville, IL | $108,264 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,028 |
| 7 | Everglades UniversityMaster's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $69,589 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,371 |
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.