Air Transportation at California Baptist University

First-year earnings of $48,989 place this program squarely at the median for California's air transportation programs and well above the national typical outcome of $43,044. That's the good news. The challenge is that we're estimating debt based on CBU's typical borrowing patterns across programs—around $25,125—rather than actual figures for aviation graduates specifically. Aviation programs often carry extra costs for flight training and certifications that can push debt higher than a university's overall average, meaning the actual burden could exceed this estimate.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 suggests manageable repayment if the $25,125 figure holds, but aviation careers typically require substantial additional investment beyond the bachelor's degree (commercial pilot ratings, instrument certifications, flight hours). Similar programs in California show debt ranging from about $22,600 to potentially much higher at schools with integrated flight training. The real question is whether CBU's aviation graduates are building those flight hours and credentials through the program or paying for them separately—a detail that dramatically changes the total investment picture.

If your child can graduate near the estimated debt level and the $49,000 starting salary holds, this could work as a launch point into aviation careers. But get specific numbers from the school about total program costs including all flight training, and recognize that breaking into commercial aviation often means a period of lower-paying flight instructor work before those first-year earnings materialize.