Air Transportation at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

Vaughn's Air Transportation program starts slow but shows remarkable momentum—graduates earn just $32,591 in their first year but see earnings nearly double to $62,000 by year four. That 90% growth trajectory suggests the program prepares students for careers with meaningful advancement potential, though the early earnings lag can't be ignored.

The national vs. state comparison tells an interesting story. While this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, it's actually at the median for New York (60th percentile statewide). With only three Air Transportation programs in the state and Farmingdale being the clear leader at $42,000, Vaughn sits squarely in the middle of a limited market. The $24,500 debt load is manageable given the four-year earnings—that's a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.40 by year four—but that first year creates real cash flow challenges for recent graduates.

The verdict depends on your patience for delayed returns. If your child can weather a tight first year (possibly with parental support or side income), the four-year outlook becomes much more reasonable. However, students needing immediate post-graduation financial independence should look elsewhere, and those with geographic flexibility might explore programs in states with stronger aviation industry presence where early earnings come faster.