Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Airport operations manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an airport operations manager. Airport operations managers usually study business, aviation, or management. 64% of airport operations managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 228 real airport operations manager resumes to see exactly what airport operations manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for airport operations managers are the Ohio State University and the Ohio State University.
There are also many online airport operations manager courses to help get the education required to be an airport operations manager.
What education do you need to become an airport operations manager?
What degree do you need to be an airport operations manager?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Associate, 19%
- Master's, 9%
- High School Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become an airport operations manager?
- Business, 33%
- Aviation, 21%
- Management, 6%
- Psychology, 4%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for airport operations managers
| Airport operations manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Ohio State University | 13.51% |
| University of Phoenix | 13.51% |
| Miami Dade College | 8.11% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.41% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | 5.41% |
Best majors for airport operations managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 32.8% |
| 2 | Aviation | 20.8% |
| 3 | Management | 5.6% |
| 4 | Psychology | 4.0% |
| 5 | Accounting | 4.0% |
Best colleges for airport operations managers
The best colleges for airport operations managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
An airport operations manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for airport operations managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become airport operations managers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
6. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
7. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
8. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Enrollment
32,072
10. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
20 best online courses for airport operations managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Navigating Healthcare Supply Chain Operations
This course is the continuation of "Introduction to Healthcare Supply Chain Operations". If you have not visited the first part yet, please check it out before starting this course. If you have finished the first part of this series: Introduction to Healthcare Supply Chain Operations, you will be able to apply what you learned to your own career. The foundational knowledge and project plan from the introduction are carried through in this deeper dive into healthcare supply chain operations. In...
2. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff
Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...
3. Airline Operations: Flight Planning and Flight Dispatch
Airline Operations: Master the essentials of aviation - aircraft operational control and dispatch...
4. Operational Risks Management ORM
Operational Risks Management ORM Case Studies for Risk Management, Compliance, Audit, IS Security, Banking Professionals...
5. Aerospace Engineering: Airplanes, Airlines and Airports
Understand how Airplanes generate Lift, how Airlines and Airports operate and what is Aerospace Engineering today...
6. Supply Chain Management A-Z: Operations & Logistics Basics
Supply Chain Management Basics: An MBA style course to boost your career as a business operations & logistics manager...
7. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
8. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
9. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
10. 4x1 Data Management/Governance/Security/Ethics Masterclass
You'll learn about data literacy, Data Quality operations, Data Governance policies and Data Security/Privacy controls...
11. Security Management: Excellence in Private Protection
A complete Security Management knowledge suite of managing security operations, programs/services, budgets, & personnel...
12. Payroll Management
Use free UK payroll software to perform essential payroll management...
13. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system
Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...
14. Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering
Learn the most important Unit Operations in Chemical Plants...
15. Heat Exchangers: Design , Operation & Maintenance
A complete understanding of construction details , functionning and design of heat exchangers for successful operation...
16. Understanding Performance Management as an HR Professional
This course is designed for human resources professionals or those who wish to learn more about performance management...
17. Apache Airflow: The Operators Guide
Step up with Apache Airflow! Master Airflow Operators and create incredible data pipelines!...
18. Travel Management Course (Skill-Based)
#1 Travel Management Course in the Industry .All you need to know to step into the Travel & Tourism Sector...
19. Centrifugal compressors: Principles, Operation and design
A complete understanding of construction details and functioning of centrifugal compressors for successful operations...
20. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
Top 10 most affordable universities for airport operations managers
The most affordable schools for airport operations managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and florida state university.
If the best universities for airport operations managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for airport operations managers.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
8. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. USF St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,821
Cost of attendance
19,849
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for airport operations managers
The hardest universities for airport operations managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for airport operations managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for airport operations managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for airport operations managers
The easiest schools for airport operations managers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an airport operations manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for airport operations managers.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
7. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
8. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
9. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
10. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
Average airport operations manager salary by education level
| Airport operations manager education level | Airport operations manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $68,104 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,370 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $58,412 |
| Doctorate Degree | $65,521 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,873 |
Airport operations manager education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
Search for airport operations manager jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025