FAA-Approved Air Traffic Controller Schools

Air traffic controllers had an average salary of $106,990 as of 2010.

An air traffic controller is responsible for maintaining a safe flow of air traffic in a designated sector of airspace. All air traffic controllers work for the Federal Aviation Administration FAA). Candidates must successfully complete an air traffic controller program from an approved FAA school. Students can obtain a Bachelor of Science or an associate degree from a certified air traffic controller program. The BS degree programs prepare students to manage and supervise other air traffic controllers.

Community Colleges (Associate Degree or Certification)

Several community colleges throughout the country have air traffic controller programs. The advantages of completing the program at a two-year college is the tuition cost is typically lower for in-state residents and the program can be completed in four semesters. At Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, a student will take 11 aviation courses during the four-semester program. In addition to Aims, other community colleges that offer this program are the Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas; Community College of Beaver County in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; Sacramento City College in California; Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington; The Community College of Baltimore County in Baltimore, Maryland; Minneapolis Community and Technical College in Eden Prairie, Minnesota; and Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma.

Midwest and Southwest Four-Year Colleges and Universities (BS Degree)

The midwest and southwest regions have the largest concentration of four-year universities and colleges that offer an FAA-approved air traffic controller or management degree program. Arizona State University in Mesa; Eastern New Mexico at Roswell; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Dayonta Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona; Kent State University in Kent, Ohio; LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas; Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois; Metropolitan State College of Denver in Colorado; Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana; St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota; Texas State Technical College in Waco; University of North Dakota in Grand Forks; University of Oklahoma in Norman; and Western Michigan University College of Aviation at Battle Creek all offer this program.

West and East Coast Four-Year Colleges and Universities (BS Degree)

Although the East and West coasts are populated with a major portion of the U.S. population, only a few four-year colleges in these regions offer an FAA-approved program in air traffic control management. The West Coast has only one four-year college that offers this program---Mount San Antonio College in the city of Walnut. Although not technically on the West Coast, Alaska offers one program at the University of Alaska at Anchorage. The East Coast offers a program at Dowling College in Shirley, New York; Danial Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire; Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia; and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Flushing, New York.

Southern Four-Year Colleges and Universities (BS Degree)

Florida schools offer more FAA-approved air traffic control management degree programs than any other state. Broward College in Pembroke Pines; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach; Florida State College at Jacksonville; the Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics in Melbourne; and Jacksonville University in Jacksonville. Other Southern programs include Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and Middle Georgia College in Cochran.

References

• FAA: Approved Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Schools
• Aims Community College: Air Traffic Controller Option
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Air Traffic Controllers