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Air Transportation at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
60
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,190/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (33% exposed)
Job Market Large (60,400 openings/yr)
ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #8 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 $726K $715K $646K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.2x 17.9x 16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.2x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 48% 39%
DegreeOutlook Score 61 60 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,095
79% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Purdue University-Main Campus's Air Transportation program produces graduates earning $45,190/yr — within striking distance of the $44,286 national average for this field.

The 17.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 33% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,500 in median debt clears quickly against $45,190 in annual earnings.

Ranked #8 out of 54 programs, Purdue University-Main Campus's Air Transportation program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $45,190 to $81,095 over five years (79% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue University-Main Campus's 50% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 39,637 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

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

Compare this program → View all 54 schools offering Air Transportation →

Air Transportation at Other Schools

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus ($88,085) Hallmark University ($79,086) University of North Texas ($56,487) Utah Valley University ($56,402) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott ($54,827) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ($54,827) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide ($54,827) Everglades University ($53,331)

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Mechanical Engineering ($80,374) Materials Engineering ($78,265) Construction Engineering ($76,966)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Air Transportation trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University-Main Campus's Air Transportation program score?
This program scores 60/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Air Transportation graduates.
Why does Purdue University-Main Campus rank so high for Air Transportation?
The #8 ranking out of 54 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →