Colleges Offering Aviation Courses - GI Bill

storm glider

storm glider

Well-Known Member
Hey Everyone,

Here is a list of the top colleges that offer aviation courses in the US
http://studyusa.com/en/schools/categories/5/aviation/

If you're planning to use your post 9/11 GI Bill for flight lessons, getting your private pilot's license won't be covered unless you go through a college based program, after your PPL you'll have more options for where to take lessons. And here's another list for that (including college programs too):
http://www.aviationschoolsonline.com/flight-schools/California/
(^this list is for California but I'm sure you can poke around on the site and find other states too)

I'm a veteran looking into flight schools myself at the moment so figured I'd share the info for others in same boat (err.. plane? :P)

Cheers!
 
One thing I would stress if you are looking into a college program is location! Go somewhere that allows you to fly all year around. If not you will end up in the same boat as me, trying to rush through ratings in the summer and early fall before the crap weather arrives.
 
storm glider said:
Hey Everyone,

Here is a list of the top colleges that offer aviation courses in the US
http://studyusa.com/en/schools/categories/5/aviation/
Click to expand...

Just an FYI, that list is missing just about every 4-year college flight program. University of Oklahoma, Florida Institute of Technology, University of North Dakota, Purdue, Western Michigan, Ohio University, Ohio State, Baylor, San Jose State, Central Missouri, to name a few..
 
JDean3204 said:
One thing I would stress if you are looking into a college program is location! Go somewhere that allows you to fly all year around.
Click to expand...

Great point JDean! And also, the better weather will pay off again if one chooses to start instructing in that area afterwards.
 
Max1594 said:
Just an FYI, that list is missing just about every 4-year college flight program. University of Oklahoma, Florida Institute of Technology, University of North Dakota, Purdue, Western Michigan, Ohio University, Ohio State, Baylor, San Jose State, Central Missouri, to name a few..
Click to expand...

Thanks Max, I know it's a list of "top colleges" so I'm not expecting every school to be on there but I'm actually shocked to see Purdue left out! The second link gives a more inclusive list of everything that's out there. If you have a link to a better list that would be awesome!
 
Huh. I was expecting to see a list of all the expensive 4-year usual suspects, but I'm glad to see a lot of community colleges. Best way to go, IMO.
 
storm glider said:
Thanks Max, I know it's a list of "top colleges" so I'm not expecting every school to be on there but I'm actually shocked to see Purdue left out! The second link gives a more inclusive list of everything that's out there. If you have a link to a better list that would be awesome!
Click to expand...

That list is almost all aviation maintenance programs, just a heads up if you yourself are using that list to find a school for flight lessons.
 
I'm currently at the university of Oklahoma, it's actually very inexpensive and I'd recommend it to anyone, feel free to pm me if you have any questions about it, while I myself am not, theres actually a pretty good amount of veterans in the program.
 
Max, yeah man, it's been a pain trying to filter through which ones have pilot courses, and some have ground training only but no flight training, ughh...
But thanks for mentioning San Jose State, that would have been my top pick but unfortunately I didn't see any flight training options on their site.
 
Yea I knew that when I was looking around at different schools they were trying to get it started there, but that was 3 years ago at this point.
 
Interesting to not see Dowling (Brookhaven, NY) on that list; UND more so.

sigh
says the Daniel Webster College student...
 
JDean3204 said:
One thing I would stress if you are looking into a college program is location! Go somewhere that allows you to fly all year around. If not you will end up in the same boat as me, trying to rush through ratings in the summer and early fall before the crap weather arrives.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure I agree with that. Weather challenges present opportunities and experience. Where do you want to get your weather experience, in training or on the job?
 
storm glider said:
Max, yeah man, it's been a pain trying to filter through which ones have pilot courses, and some have ground training only but no flight training, ughh...
But thanks for mentioning San Jose State, that would have been my top pick but unfortunately I didn't see any flight training options on their site.
Click to expand...


California public universities do not have flight training. It is a State law due to a crash many years ago.


TP
 
mat said:
In CA the list is about 0. College of the Sequoias has a helicopter program and Orange Coast College has an airplane program but it's not attractive at all.
Click to expand...
There is also Pacific Union College but it's fairly removed from civilization seems like it so I don't think I'd like it. And I actually got my associates from OCC before transferring (totally different field) and even looked into the flying program back then 5 or so yrs ago, it seemed ok to me then... and seeing as how CA options are limited, OCC is probably on the top of my list currently.. What's not so attractive about there?

typhoonpilot said:
California public universities do not have flight training. It is a State law due to a crash many years ago.
Click to expand...
Gotcha, thanks!
 
Good find with PUC. It's private and religious but it's still something close. OCC has a weird vibe to it, someone contacted them in the GI bill thread and wrote about it I think. I noticed it just from their website too back when I was looking. They don't accept prior certificates, they only have 2 PA-28s, 2? instructors, and it's only covered through CSEL. It also says it'll take 18-24 months and I believe that's accurate, and way too long.

I think any college with a bigger program would be much better. I moved to FL for a year and did from fresh PPL to CMEL and that was enjoying myself. I can see someone going from 0-CMEL in 12 months where I went. Plus it's covered through MEI and they would likely hire you right after CFI. So ~15 months and you could be a working CFI. The BAH isn't as much but all the flight labs are covered, so you end up way ahead. Plus they have Cessnas younger than you are. They had like 20 going through at any one time and their process for vets was smooth.
 
And if you're stuck on CA then look into Mt San Antonio College. They have a flight school attached to the college. It's competitive but you're likely to get in if you're full time in an aviation major. The BAH would probably cover all the flight training except multi. They have ~5 single engine planes. You could even do an A&P there while flying if you're into that. I did the aviation science degree back when CTI schools meant something for ATC.
 
moxiepilot said:
I'm not sure I agree with that. Weather challenges present opportunities and experience. Where do you want to get your weather experience, in training or on the job?
Click to expand...

Very valid point. I have had a good amount of weather experience in training due to my location. In instrument I was able to log a decent amount of actual (before freezing levels became a factor), and for most of the spring you make the decision whether or not to go. Then when you do decide to try for the flight, dodging clouds while trying to practice commercial maneuvers becomes the norm.

The reason I said that is because cancelling flights for days and weeks on end can sometimes deteriorate your motivation, it did for me anyway. Now the summer weather is arriving and I am flying my tail off :)
 
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