Air Transportation at Central Oregon Community College

Central Oregon Community College's Air Transportation program graduates start at $48,594—about $6,000 above the national median for associate-level aviation programs. With debt of just $13,416, the 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly three months of their first-year salary, a manageable starting point for entering the aviation industry. Among Oregon's five aviation programs, this sits right at the state median, suggesting consistent outcomes across the state's community college flight training options.

The catch here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the reporting period. Aviation programs at community colleges tend to have modest cohorts since flight training is specialized and expensive, but these numbers could swing considerably year to year. The 64th percentile national ranking is solid for a regional program, though it's worth noting you're not getting elite-level placement that some larger aviation academies might offer.

For families in Central Oregon or the Pacific Northwest, this represents a practical entry point into aviation careers. The debt load is reasonable enough that graduates can manage payments while building flight hours toward commercial ratings and airline positions. Just understand that these earnings are starting points—aviation careers typically require additional certifications and flight time before reaching major airline salaries, so the real return on investment unfolds over several years rather than immediately after graduation.