U.S. median for this major: $83,448.
College Scorecard field of study; 138 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 30% 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 $29,237. College Scorecard.
WMU Air Transportation: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Michigan 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 WMU'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 | $5,263 | $24,262 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $5,734 | $26,434 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $13,833 | $63,770 | 1.1 years |
| $75–110k | $18,307 | $84,395 | 1.5 years |
| $110k+ | $23,625 | $108,911 | 1.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (29% 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 ($89,564) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $56,153 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 | Eastern Michigan University | $91,648 | $29,750 | $15,407 | 46% |
| 2 | Western Michigan University | $89,564 | $27,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
3 more Michigan colleges offer Air Transportation but have 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 WMU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WMU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,562
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
WMU Air Transportation questions
How much do WMU Air Transportation graduates earn?
Air Transportation graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median $89,564 four years after graduating and $34,872 one year after. The U.S. median for Air Transportation graduates across 52 colleges is $83,448.
How much debt do WMU Air Transportation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Air Transportation graduates of Western Michigan University is $27,000, about 30% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,615.
Where does WMU rank for Air Transportation in Michigan?
Of 2 Michigan colleges reporting Air Transportation graduate earnings, Western Michigan University ranks 2nd. The highest is Eastern Michigan University at $91,648.
What jobs do Air Transportation graduates get?
A common career is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, with a median wage of $428,570 in Michigan 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: “Western Michigan University Air Transportation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-michigan-university/majors/air-transportation (College Scorecard and BLS data).