U.S. median for this major: $83,448.
College Scorecard field of study; 150 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 25% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,615.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,329. College Scorecard.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Air Transportation: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Illinois colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Air Transportation nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,415 | $40,673 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $8,497 | $36,707 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $10,308 | $44,531 | 1.0 years |
| $75–110k | $17,724 | $76,568 | 1.7 years |
| $110k+ | $23,254 | $100,457 | 2.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (40% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Air Transportation graduates 4 years after graduating ($81,394) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $45,597 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Air Transportation at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Air Transportation graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis University | $87,197 | $24,873 | $17,028 | 67% |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $81,394 | $20,500 | $13,297 | 62% |
1 more Illinois college offers Air Transportation but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Air Transportation graduates
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Acceptance rate: 87% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 62% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,390
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Air Transportation questions
How much do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Air Transportation graduates earn?
Air Transportation graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn a median $81,394 four years after graduating and $44,063 one year after. The U.S. median for Air Transportation graduates across 52 colleges is $83,448.
How much debt do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Air Transportation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Air Transportation graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is $20,500, about 25% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,615.
Where does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rank for Air Transportation in Illinois?
Of 2 Illinois colleges reporting Air Transportation graduate earnings, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale ranks 2nd. The highest is Lewis University at $87,197.
What jobs do Air Transportation graduates get?
A common career is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, with a median wage of $293,490 in Illinois and $232,140 nationally.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Air Transportation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/air-transportation (College Scorecard and BLS data).