Compare 17 Flight Instructor. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $63,202.
With top graduates earning $77,266, Flight Instructor stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $14K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of Nebraska at Omaha leads with Flight Instructor graduates earning $77,266, followed closely by Minnesota State University-Mankato at $75,272. The average across 17 Midwest programs is $63,202, yet these regional publics demonstrate that program excellence isn't confined to prestigious institutions.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Nebraska at Omaha graduates borrow $19,000 and face just a 4.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income.
Highest program earnings: $77,266
Strong outcomes with 87% acceptance
4.8% payment burden | Excellent
9.4% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $77,266 | 31 | $19,000 | Excellent | $15,945 | Good | |
| #2 | $75,272 | 45 | $21,106 | Excellent | $13,695 | Good | |
| #3 | $74,569 | 196 | $22,057 | Excellent | $14,269 | Good | |
| #4 | $73,463 | 20 | $21,056 | Excellent | $23,508 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $71,373 | 100 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Manageable | |
| #6 | University Of DubuquePrivate | $68,260 | 40 | $25,750 | Excellent | $21,000 | Manageable |
| #7 | Lewis UniversityPrivate | $66,953 | 105 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,044 | Manageable |
| #8 | $66,019 | 68 | $24,500 | Excellent | $21,394 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $65,965 | 59 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $65,149 | 126 | $26,188 | Good | $22,488 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $60,106 | 31 | $21,000 | Excellent | $14,000 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $59,840 | 30 | $21,250 | Excellent | $27,283 | Challenging |
| #13 | $59,650 | 141 | $21,543 | Excellent | $19,500 | Manageable | |
| #14 | Indiana State UniversityPublic | $54,448 | 108 | $24,000 | Good | $17,049 | Challenging |
| #15 | $47,260 | 29 | $25,000 | Manageable | $16,878 | Challenging | |
| #16 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | $44,459 | 31 | $25,000 | Manageable | $34,177 | High |
| #17 | $44,384 | 26 | $25,000 | Manageable | $25,947 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
