Air Transportation at University of Louisiana at Monroe

A debt load near $24,000 against first-year earnings around $43,000 positions this aviation program favorably compared to many bachelor's degrees, though these figures come from national peers rather than ULM's specific outcomes. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in roughly seven months of gross income—a manageable burden that leaves room for the typical early-career expenses of flight training advancement and relocation that aviation careers often demand.

The national benchmark of $43,000 tells only part of the story for Louisiana aviation graduates. Louisiana Tech, the one in-state program with reported data, shows median earnings of $35,669—roughly $7,000 less than the national figure. This gap matters because aviation careers are national in scope but regionally concentrated, and Louisiana's smaller aviation market may offer fewer immediate opportunities than states with major airline hubs. Whether ULM's program delivers outcomes closer to the national median or Louisiana's lower figure remains uncertain without school-specific data.

For families evaluating this investment, the key consideration is where graduates end up geographically. If your student plans to pursue opportunities beyond Louisiana's limited aviation sector, the national earnings pattern suggests reasonable value. If they're anchored to the region, the economics become tighter. The relatively modest debt load provides a cushion either way, but career placement and geographic flexibility will likely matter more than the credential itself.