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# Best Transportation Colleges in the South (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Regional list from [Best Transportation Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-transportation-colleges/)

This page ranks the 19 colleges in the South that report median earnings of Transportation graduates four years after completing. Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Transportation graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first.

Across the 16 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings after completing range from $124,645 to $26,353, with a median of $79,850; for 3 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. [Texas A&M University-College Station](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting $124,645 for its Transportation graduates after completing.

Public institutions account for 13 of the 19 schools, or 68%, alongside 6 private nonprofits. Texas A&M University-College Station ranks 25th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally, and Elizabeth City State University posts the lowest average net price at $6,364.

## The ranked list

19 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Transportation Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $124,645 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
|  | [Texas A&M University-College Station](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/majors/) reports [$124,645 in median earnings](/school/texas-am-university-college-station/outcomes/) of Transportation graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 84%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marine Transportation (63 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Marine Transportation ($124,645) |
| 2 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | $102,096 | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
|  | [Liberty University](/school/liberty-university/majors/) [admits 99% of applicants](/school/liberty-university/admissions/) and its Transportation graduates earn a median of $102,096 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (440 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($102,096) |
| 3 | Middle Georgia State University · Macon, GA | $93,627 | $12,361 | $10,668 | 99.7% |
|  | With an average net price of $12,361, Middle Georgia State University ranks 3rd on this list and reports median earnings of $93,627 for its Transportation graduates. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (114 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($93,627) |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK | $91,081 | $15,300 | $10,509 | 76.6% |
|  | [University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus](/school/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 75%](/school/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus/outcomes/) and median earnings of $91,081 for its Transportation graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (45 graduates) |
| 5 | Everglades University · Boca Raton, FL | $86,730 | $27,371 | $25,556 | 81.5% |
|  | Everglades University, a private nonprofit university in Boca Raton, reports an average net price of $27,371 and median earnings of $86,730 for its Transportation graduates. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (64 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($86,730) |
| 6 | Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA | $83,323 | $11,864 | $7,676 | 86.4% |
|  | [Louisiana Tech University](/school/louisiana-tech-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $83,323](/school/louisiana-tech-university/outcomes/) for its Transportation graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $11,864. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (46 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($83,323) |
| 7 | Florida Institute of Technology · Melbourne, FL | $83,243 | $35,639 | $29,108 | 57.7% |
|  | [Florida Institute of Technology](/school/florida-institute-of-technology/majors/) [admits 58% of applicants](/school/florida-institute-of-technology/admissions/) and its Transportation graduates earn a median of $83,243 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (89 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($83,243) |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $80,424 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 69.1% |
|  | [Middle Tennessee State University](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $13,359](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/cost/) and a six-year completion rate of 54%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (205 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($80,424) |
| 9 | LeTourneau University · Longview, TX | $79,277 | $28,185 | $22,785 | 38.0% |
|  | LeTourneau University admits 38% of applicants and reports median earnings of $79,277 for its Transportation graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (53 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($79,277) |
| 10 | Hallmark University · San Antonio, TX | $79,086 | $12,513 | $10,662 | 51.3% |
|  | Hallmark University reports a six-year completion rate of 66% and an average net price of $12,513. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (5 graduates) |
| 11 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $78,166 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
|  | [University of North Texas](/school/university-of-north-texas/majors/) reports [median earnings of $78,166](/school/university-of-north-texas/outcomes/) for its Transportation graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $15,649. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($78,166) |
| 12 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · Stillwater, OK | $75,469 | $17,447 | $12,243 | 75.0% |
|  | [Oklahoma State University-Main Campus](/school/oklahoma-state-university-main-campus/majors/) [admits 75% of applicants](/school/oklahoma-state-university-main-campus/admissions/) and its Transportation graduates earn a median of $75,469 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (115 graduates) |
| 13 | Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY | $66,943 | $11,040 | $8,591 | 77.6% |
|  | [Eastern Kentucky University](/school/eastern-kentucky-university/majors/) reports [$66,943 in median earnings](/school/eastern-kentucky-university/outcomes/) for its Transportation graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $11,040. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (76 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($66,943) |
| 14 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore · Princess Anne, MD | $62,080 | $13,338 | $9,914 | 96.4% |
|  | University of Maryland Eastern Shore admits 96% of applicants and its Transportation graduates earn a median of $62,080 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Air Transportation ($62,080) |
| 15 | Jacksonville University · Jacksonville, FL | $44,835 | $25,180 | $21,893 | 56.9% |
|  | Jacksonville University, a private nonprofit university in Jacksonville, reports median earnings of $44,835 for its Transportation graduates two years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (44 graduates) |
| 16 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $35,856 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
|  | [Auburn University](/school/auburn-university/majors/) ranks 16th on this list and posts a [six-year completion rate of 82%](/school/auburn-university/outcomes/) alongside an admission rate of 46%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (120 graduates) |
| 17 | Texas Southern University · Houston, TX | $35,060 | $16,590 | $16,437 | 96.9% |
|  | [Texas Southern University](/school/texas-southern-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $35,060](/school/texas-southern-university/outcomes/) for its Transportation graduates two years after completing, with an average net price of $16,590. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (11 graduates) |
| 18 | Delta State University · Cleveland, MS | $32,537 | $13,540 | $12,223 | 100.0% |
|  | Delta State University ranks 18th on this list and admits 100% of applicants, with a six-year completion rate of 48%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (22 graduates) |
| 19 | Elizabeth City State University · Elizabeth City, NC | $26,353 | $6,364 | $4,246 | 64.2% |
|  | Elizabeth City State University reports median earnings of $26,353 for its Transportation graduates two years after completing, and an average net price of $6,364. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Air Transportation (21 graduates) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Transportation graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure is the median for federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 3 of the 19 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 16 schools with a reported completion median. Texas A&M University-College Station leads Liberty University by a gap of $22,549, and the spread from Texas A&M University-College Station to the lowest listed school is $98,292.

## Job market context in the South

The Bureau of Labor Statistics links Transportation programs to occupations such as Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, Light Truck Drivers, and Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators in the South. The median annual wage across those occupations is $52,725, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $44,091. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 7,615 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 10.7% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing, which is a different measure from the occupational wage figures reported here.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Transportation Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-transportation-colleges/)
-   [Best Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-south/)
-   Transportation Colleges in the South for Social Mobility