Air Transportation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus commands premium tuition for its aviation programs, but the associate degree numbers reveal a puzzling reality. Graduates earn $67,000 right out of school—crushing the national median for this degree by 58% and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. The debt load of $18,750 translates to a manageable 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below concerning thresholds. So far, this looks like elite aviation training paying off.

The complications emerge in the details. First, earnings are essentially flat four years out, with graduates making slightly less ($66,388) than they did initially—unusual for a field where pilots typically advance. This might reflect the current flight instructor phase many graduates experience before moving to regional airlines, or it could indicate the data captures a specific industry cycle. More notably, while these earnings dominate most aviation programs nationally, they're merely middle-of-the-pack among Florida's 15 aviation schools. Embry-Riddle's worldwide campus reports identical earnings at the associate level, suggesting you're not necessarily paying for superior outcomes at the residential Daytona campus.

For families who can afford it without excessive loans, this program launches aviation careers effectively. But understand you're paying for the Embry-Riddle brand and campus experience rather than earnings that distinctly outperform Florida alternatives. If your child is borrowing significantly beyond the $18,750 median, cheaper in-state options might deliver similar first-job outcomes.