Air Transportation at Ohio University-Main Campus

A $13,000 debt load for an aviation associate's degree seems manageable at first glance—the 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio falls comfortably in the affordable range. Comparable aviation programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $42,500, though the data comes with an asterisk: Ohio University's specific program has too few graduates for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. The modest debt estimate, derived from similar associate's programs at the school, at least suggests this won't require crushing loan payments while building flight hours or working entry-level aviation positions.

The challenge lies in what these estimates can't tell you. Aviation careers follow unpredictable trajectories—regional airline pilots, air traffic controllers, and aircraft mechanics all start differently and peak at vastly different income levels. The $42,500 estimate represents a national average across various aviation pathways, but your child's specific track within this program matters enormously. Top-performing aviation associate's programs nationally see first-year earnings above $53,000, suggesting there's significant variation in how different schools position graduates.

Given the small graduate cohort, contact the program directly about placement rates and typical career paths for recent alumni. The financial picture looks reasonable on paper, but you need to understand whether this leads to professional pilot training (expensive), maintenance certification (stable), or airport operations (limited growth) before committing.