Transportation

About Transportation

Wondering whether Transportation is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what an Airline Pilot earns and how the role is projected to grow.

Aviation, logistics, maritime, and commercial transport. Technical programs for careers moving goods and people across the country and around the world. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $85,825, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 547 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 35,751 students complete a degree in this area every year.

Median Earnings · 1yr

$43,992

Median Earnings · 4yr

$85,825

Colleges Offering

547

Graduates / Year

35,751

Specializations

3

Avg Net Price / yr

$18,981

Is a Transportation Degree Right for You?

Is the Investment Worth It?

Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $85,825 against an estimated $75,924 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.

How Much Do Transportation Majors Earn?

Pay for Transportation graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $43,992 one year after graduation, rising to $85,825 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 547 US institutions offering programs in this field.

What Can You Do With a Transportation Degree?

Career Paths for Transportation Graduates

Studying Transportation does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Airline Pilot pays the most among them at a median $232,140 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.

Another common path leads to what Air Traffic Controllers typically earn and how the field is trending.

Transportation Specializations

Which specialization you pick inside Transportation matters more than usual here. Transportation breaks into 3 specializations, and four-year earnings swing from $85,825 to $117,011 depending on which one you choose. Each row below links to a full program profile, sorted highest-paying first. Source: College Scorecard.

The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for a Marine Transportation program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.

Best Colleges for Transportation

These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Transportation, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide.

Ranked by number of Transportation graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →

How Transportation Compares to Similar Majors

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Transportation degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.

Transportation Degree: Pros & Cons

On the numbers that matter most financially, Transportation beats most other majors: earnings are strong and the career field is growing. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are pulled from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS data, not editorial scoring.

Transportation Degree: Frequently Asked Questions