#1
RANKED #1 In upward mobility nationwide
Moving students from the bottom 40% to the top 40% in income**
Aviation Program
Aeronautical Sciences
Bachelor of Science: 124 Credits
Program at a Glance
Degree and credential levels offered :
Bachelor of Science (BS) | Enhanced AT-CTI Program
Employer partners :
Atlas Air | Delta Air Lines | Federal Aviation Administration | Global Aviation | Heritage Flight Academy | JetBlue Airways | John F. Kennedy International Airport | LaGuardia Airport | NEAJETS | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | Southwest Airlines | United Airlines | United States Air Force
Example careers graduates pursue :
Aviation maintenance manager | Logistics manager | Maintenance schedule manager | Maintenance production manager | Operations manager | Unmanned aerial systems pilot | Airline dispatcher | Accident investigation and safety management systems manager
Location and facilities :
Vaughn campus at 86-01 23rd Avenue, Flushing, New York 11369, adjacent to LaGuardia Airport.
About the Aeronautical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree at Vaughn College
Vaughn College’s Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Sciences is a 124-credit degree that gives students the flexibility to integrate FAA-certified flight training directly into the academic curriculum. Students build expertise across flight operations, air traffic control, flight dispatch, airfield management, aviation safety and crew resource management.
Located adjacent to LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, New York, Vaughn students experience real-world aviation at one of the busiest airports in the United States providing a learning environment that no textbook can replicate.
The Mission of the Aeronautical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Program
The mission of the aeronautical sciences bachelor’s degree program is to provide students with a program in aviation studies with optional flight training for students who wish to become pilots, aviation professionals or air traffic controllers.
Graduates gain the technical knowledge to pursue a career as a commercial pilot, along with the opportunity to complete the Air Traffic Control Program (under the FAA AT-CTI Program)—standard or enhanced—or flight dispatch certification. The program’s career-focused curriculum supports internships during enrollment and full-time roles immediately after graduation.
FAA Enhanced AT-CTI Program at Vaughn
Vaughn was approved by the FAA in April 2025 to offer the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program, which allows direct placement of eligible graduates into FAA facilities for controller training (bypassing training time at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City). You can review the degree programs and requirements for Vaughn’s standard, enhanced, certificates and Certified Tower Operator Partnership (CTO-P) air traffic control program options.
Curriculum
What You Will Study
Vaughn’s aeronautical sciences degree will expose you to a wide variety of courses, preparing you for a successful aviation career. You will have access to diverse areas of aeronautical technology, air traffic control, human factors, accidental investigation, airline procedures, aviation, safety and crew resource management―all with hands-on practice and methodical and technical focuses.
An overview of aviation allows students to appreciate the complexities of aeronautics. This includes the history, technology, social and economic impacts of aerospace and its future developments, in addition to government regulation.
Sample Classes:
- Advanced Aircraft Systems
- Aeronautics and Simulator Lab
- Air Traffic Control
- Aviation Safety
- Crew Resource Management
- Multi-Engine Operations
Program Educational Objectives
What Graduates are Prepared For
The program’s educational objectives are designed to produce versatile, career-ready aviation professionals who:
Excel in Aviation Careers
Obtain positions requiring detailed technical knowledge and skills in the operation and management of aircraft
Pursue Advanced Education
Are academically prepared for graduate study and professional certifications in aviation and aerospace
Lead Responsibly
Conduct themselves as responsible professionals, actively engaged in their community and their industry
Learning Outcomes/Enrollment and Graduation Data
8th Best Regional College in New York State
95%
OF VAUGHN GRADUATES
71% in their field—are employed or continue their education within one year*
How Much Can I Make?
Transportation, storage and distribution managers can make median annual salaries of $120K or more in New York. The demand for these roles is high, given current workforce shortages. Check out the median annual salaries you can earn in some of the careers attainable with this degree below (located within 100 miles of Queens, New York). (Source: Lightcast)
Student Success Stories
Read about the success of Vaughn students and how you can graduate with a career in aviation.
Tuition, Financial Aid and Outcomes
An aeronautical science bachelor of science degree from Vaughn College is an investment in a futureproof career—and Vaughn is ranked #1 in the nation for upward mobility, best at moving more students from the bottom 40 percent of household income to the top 40 percent.† You can review tuition and fee schedules and our college calculator can help estimate the cost of college.
The majority of Vaughn students receive some form of financial assistance. Financial aid options include federal and state grants, merit- and need-based scholarships, work-study and loans. To be considered, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Vaughn’s financial aid team works with every student to build an affordable path to graduation, while providing financial planning tools along the way.
Wondering whether an aeronautical science degree is worth it? Explore Vaughn’s return on investment data to see how graduates’ career outcomes and earnings compare—backed by the Vaughn Guarantee, the College’s commitment that students graduate career-ready.
†The Upshot, January 18, 2017, “Some Colleges Have More Students From the Top 1 Percent Than the Bottom 60.”