Air Transportation at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,025/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (33% exposed)
Job Market Large (60,400 openings/yr)
ROI 21.6x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #12 of 54 Air Transportation programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Air Transportation graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $807K $793K $709K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.0x 21.6x 19.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.4x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 48% 39%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,768
Out-of-state: $107,084 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,860
-60% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,851
117% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $40,025/yr, Air Transportation graduates from Central Washington University land near the $44,286 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Air Transportation programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Air Transportation's typical career paths, with 33% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $20,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #12 of 54 nationally, this is a top-5% Air Transportation program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $86,851 show a 117% jump from the $40,025 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Central Washington University

With 90% of applicants admitted, Central Washington University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers $226,600/yr
Air traffic controllers $144,580/yr
Commercial pilots $122,670/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Air Transportation at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Air Transportation at Central Washington University?
A score of 58/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Air Transportation field.
What makes Central Washington University's Air Transportation program stand out?
Ranked #12 of 54 programs nationally, Central Washington University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →