State universities generally have larger student populations and more program offerings than community colleges. Students who opt to attend an AT-CTI program at a state university can take advantage of the cultural and academic diversity that a large educational institution offers. Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, and Arizona State University in Mesa, Arizona, are among the large state schools offering AT-CTI programs.
Community colleges allow many students the financial advantage of studying close to home while pursuing a career in air traffic control. AT-CTI programs are offered at community colleges in every region of the United States. Mount San Antonio College in suburban Los Angeles is one of two community colleges in California offering AT-CTI sanctioned training.
Specialized aviation and aeronautics schools often appeal to students who enjoy learning in a very focused environment. Two examples of specialized schools that offer FAA-approved air traffic control training through the AT-CTI program are Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which has campuses in Florida and Arizona, and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Flushing, New York.
Graduates of Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative programs who are hired by the FAA must complete additional training in terminal or en route air traffic control. This specialized instruction is conducted at the FAA Academy, a training and development facility in Oklahoma City operated by the Federal Aviation Administration.