undergradly.
Major · Transportation & Materials Moving

A broad foundation in how aviation industries operate and evolve

Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General covers the technical, operational, and business dimensions of air transportation — from flight systems to airline operations to industry management. About 5,383 degrees are awarded annually across 87 colleges, with both associate's and bachelor's options available. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alone accounts for roughly a third of all completions.

Schools offering
87
Annual completions
5,383
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$82k

About this major

Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General is built around a broad understanding of aviation as an industry — how aircraft systems work, how air transportation is organized, how safety and regulatory frameworks operate, and how aviation businesses function. The CIP definition describes it as focusing on aviation and the aviation industry broadly, including in-flight and ground support operations along with the technical, business, and general aspects of air transportation systems. That breadth is the defining feature: this is not a program that develops pilots, nor a narrow management degree. It sits at the intersection of all three — technical knowledge, operational awareness, and industry context.

Coursework typically spans aerodynamics and aircraft systems, aviation weather, federal aviation regulations, airport and airline operations, aviation safety, and human factors. Upper-division programs often add aviation business, transportation policy, and industry management. The depth and emphasis varies considerably by school. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — whose three campuses (Worldwide, Daytona Beach, and Prescott) produce roughly 1,995 graduates per year, about 37% of all completions — approaches the curriculum with a highly specialized institutional focus that is hard to replicate elsewhere.

The tracked career for this major, Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers, posts a $102,010 median wage with 6.1% projected growth. The major is available at 87 colleges with about 5,383 annual completions — a mid-sized field, concentrated in institutions with dedicated aviation programs rather than distributed across general universities. Both associate's and bachelor's degrees are offered, with the bachelor's showing meaningfully higher five-year earnings ($83,993 versus $75,518 for the associate's).

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers $102k +6.1% High school diploma or equivalent
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$82k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$76k

Bachelor's

$84k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you are drawn to aviation as a system — not just the experience of flying, but how airlines, airports, and regulatory bodies coordinate to move millions of passengers safely and efficiently. You may also fit well here if you want a foundation that spans technical, operational, and business dimensions before specializing, or if you are considering a career in aviation management, safety, or federal aviation oversight rather than a cockpit role. The earnings signal supports the investment: five-year median earnings around $82,150, and bachelor's completers averaging closer to $83,993, put this major above a large share of undergraduate programs.

Think twice if your primary goal is to become a commercial or airline pilot — the Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew major (about 1,633 annual completions) is designed around FAA certification and flight hours, which this general program does not provide. Think twice also if you want a tightly defined career track from day one, because the general framing of this CIP code means the major draws students with quite different goals, and not all programs will give you the same depth. And if cost is a constraint, note that this field is heavily concentrated in Embry-Riddle campuses and a small set of specialized institutions — if those schools' price points are a barrier, programs at Middle Tennessee State University, University of North Dakota, or Western Michigan University offer aviation science at a different cost profile.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Daytona Beach, FL 275 898 1,173
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL 35 542 577
Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 0 439 439
Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN 0 388 388
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND 0 290 290
Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 0 243 243
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Prescott, AZ 0 225 225
Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA 0 119 119
Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL 0 103 103
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK 0 98 98
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

1,633 completions/yr

Aviation/Airway Management and Operations

1,211 completions/yr

Air Traffic Controller

153 completions/yr

Air Transportation, Other

129 completions/yr

Remote Aircraft Pilot

28 completions/yr

Airline Flight Attendant

21 completions/yr

Flight Instructor

20 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do aeronautics and aviation science majors actually study day-to-day?
The curriculum spans aviation's technical, operational, and regulatory dimensions. Coursework typically covers aerodynamics and aircraft systems, aviation meteorology, air traffic management principles, federal aviation regulations, airport operations, and aviation safety. Upper-division work often reaches into airline management, aviation business, and human factors in flight. The CIP definition describes it as covering in-flight and ground support operations alongside the business and general aspects of air transportation systems — a deliberately broad framing that distinguishes it from specialized programs focused narrowly on flying or management.
Do I need a bachelor's, or is an associate's enough for this field?
The data shows a meaningful but not enormous gap: five-year median earnings for bachelor's completers run about $83,993 versus about $75,518 for associate's completers — a difference of roughly $8,500. Whether that gap justifies two additional years depends on the specific career target. For operational roles in aviation management, airline operations, or aviation safety, a bachelor's is typically expected. An associate's can serve as a foundation for transfer — several of the related majors in this CIP family, like Aviation/Airway Management, offer pathways that build on foundational coursework.
What kinds of jobs do graduates from this major typically end up in?
The tracked career in this dataset is Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers, with a median wage of $102,010 and 6.1% projected growth — a realistic ceiling for experienced graduates who move into operational leadership. However, this major is a broad foundation rather than a direct pipeline to one occupation. Graduates also move into aviation safety inspection, airline operations management, airport administration, aerospace industry roles, and federal aviation agencies like the FAA. The one notable detail: Transportation Manager is listed with a typical education of 'high school diploma or equivalent,' which reflects the occupation's varied entry paths rather than suggesting no degree is needed to compete.
How does this major differ from becoming a commercial pilot or air traffic controller?
The general aeronautics/aviation science program is not a pilot training program — it covers aviation broadly rather than developing flight credentials. Two closely related majors in the same CIP family are more specific: Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew (about 1,633 annual completions) focuses on developing FAA certificates and flight hours, and Air Traffic Controller (about 153 completions) prepares students specifically for ATC roles. If flying or controlling traffic is the primary goal, those programs are more direct. Aviation/Airway Management and Operations (about 1,211 completions) is the closest peer for students interested in the administrative and operational side of air transportation.
How strong is the institutional concentration in this major?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University accounts for a large share of completions — its three campuses (Worldwide, Daytona Beach, and Prescott) collectively produce about 1,995 graduates annually, roughly 37% of the national total for this major. That concentration is significant: Embry-Riddle's reputation in aviation is strong and its industry relationships are deep, which matters for job placement. But it also means the field is anchored to a small set of specialized institutions. Other schools with meaningful programs include Liberty University (439 completions), Middle Tennessee State University (388), University of North Dakota (290), and Western Michigan University (243).
What's a realistic earnings picture after this degree?
Five-year median earnings run about $82,150 across degree levels — above the median for most bachelor's degrees nationwide. Bachelor's completers specifically show a median around $83,993 at five years. The top tracked occupation, Transportation and Distribution Manager, posts a $102,010 median wage, which reflects a more experienced or management-track position. The strong earnings signal for a 'general' program reflects the fact that aviation industry roles, even outside the cockpit, tend to pay above the broader labor market average — partly due to the specialized knowledge required and partly due to the industry's high barriers to entry.