Air Transportation at Rio Salado College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 suggests manageable financial risk for this aviation program, though the absence of school-specific data means families should proceed with realistic expectations. Based on national medians from comparable aviation associate's programs, first-year earnings around $42,500 paired with roughly $13,200 in debt represents a relatively safe investment—graduates would owe about four months of income. For context, aviation programs nationally range from $20,000 to $53,000 in first-year earnings, so the median figures used here sit squarely in the middle rather than at either extreme.

The challenge is that Rio Salado's actual outcomes remain unknown due to small graduate cohorts. Aviation associate's degrees can lead to varied careers—from aircraft maintenance to flight operations—with significantly different earning trajectories. The national median suggests moderate early earnings, but individual results depend heavily on which aviation career path students pursue and whether they continue training for professional certifications. The unusually low Pell grant percentage (7%) may indicate most students attend part-time while already working in aviation, which could mean earnings estimates understate actual financial situations.

Consider this program a reasonable starting point if your child has a clear aviation career goal and understands the specific certifications or additional training required. The estimated debt load won't be crushing, but verify what credentials this associate's degree actually provides versus what the target job requires.