UND or OU?

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skaterperson88

New Member
I've recently been accepted to both and the main goal is to eventually be a pilot, but I've had some trouble deciding between the two. I don't know if I'd be able to handle the freezing winters at UND, coming from NJ, although it does get cold here, but they do have a great aviation program. I don't really have much info on the University of Oklahoma's aviation program and was wondering if there are any current students their that could tell me how they liked it so far and what not, same to the UND students, thanks.
 
Let me preface with my rant to follow with this. A flight program is a flight program. Learning to fly is a fairly simple and straightforward process. Flight schools offer plus and minuses to how you want to conduct your training. Financing isn't what it used to be either, so the benefit of student loans to help pay for flight training isn't what it used to be.

Now, for my "rant". When I went to UND it was a good program and mostly populated with students and staff who were interested in being professionals in whatever aspect of aviation they were pursuing. Go and read through the UND forums here on JC and these are the types of students you will be going to school with. If you can handle that, then godspeed. I will say, UND is not what it once was, not because of the leadership, not much has changed on that end. The atmosphere that the current generation of students have created has changed UND from a good place to train and build a foundation on which to base your future experience to a place that is "uncool" to take pride in flying or take charge of your training.
 
Take a look at the UND forum. There are lots of opinions on there. Personally I did not like UND, but you may find it to be just fine. Do a little more research on Aviation Colleges. There are LOTS of them. Good luck!
 
Good luck with your selection process.

UND has become the biggest program in the last several years (by far). Last year, they flew over 120,000 flight hours. ERAU-D did about 68,000, ERAU-P did around 30,000 and Western Michigan did about 26,000. Big programs have both benefits and drawbacks. The benefits include the facilities: new aircraft, new ATC simulators, CRJ FTD, full altitude chamber (not the "tent" that some advertise), and great buildings. The drawbacks include: it's big, and the policies they have fit most students, but not all of them.

As far as cost, you will be looking at $106,000 for a four-year degree in Commercial Aviation (compared to $180-190k for the Riddles). Not sure about OU.

Therer are many other things to consider. Do your research. Good luck!
 
I am from Oklahoma and I had a hard time picking OU vs. UND when picking a college to attend. OU has a GREAT campus however the flight program at OU is nothing like at UND. Also, if you live in Grand Forks for a full year (Fall, Spring, and Summer) you can get in-state tution at UND. I currently attend UND and I like the program here. The program here is very professional and I feel has helped me become a more knowledgeable and well-rounded pilot than the program at OU would have provided me.
 
You sound exactly like me when I was a senior in high school.
Here's my advice: go to your state school. You'll pay relatively inexpensive instate tuition and get a broad degree in a field other than aviation. Then, during summers, do you flight training. This way, at the end of four years, not only will you have a solid back up plan if you can't get a flying job, but you'll also have a solid degree to fall back on. Take my advice man, I went to Purdue Aviation and it took me one day to figure this out. Don't make the same mistake I did.
 
skaterperson88 said:
I've recently been accepted to both and the main goal is to eventually be a pilot, but I've had some trouble deciding between the two. I don't know if I'd be able to handle the freezing winters at UND, coming from NJ, although it does get cold here, but they do have a great aviation program. I don't really have much info on the University of Oklahoma's aviation program and was wondering if there are any current students their that could tell me how they liked it so far and what not, same to the UND students, thanks.
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Flight school is a little different than other majors. Other jobs may prefer students from some particular schools (ivy league, or top tier schools). Flying is completely different. You get your ratings and get out. Hopefully you get an education along the way. When getting your education, DO NOT GET AN AVIATION DEGREE!!!!!!! Get something that you could use later in life if flying does not work out, something like business or engineering. When someone comes into an interview for an airline, they may ask where you went to school just to chat or make sure you have a degree, but where you went HAS NO BEARING ON YOUR ABILITY TO FLY. You will have a certain amount of hours and you may fly a sim at the interview, but that is it. People don't hire because someone went to riddle, or und, or purdue, or any other school. You get hired because you can fly and because you can interview. Do not go somewhere because they have some BS crj sim, or promise you an interview, or what not. Go somewhere that is cheap and somewhere that has good college life. Personally, I'd follow the advice above and go to your state school, but if you have it narrowed to OU or UND; I'd pick OU.
 
upup89 said:
Who's cheaper
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Im taking a shot in the dark here but if I had to guess it would be UND. Im at 90k for 4 years of tutiton and flight training cost. Private- CRJ. 52K. Living expenses not included. I also got instate tuition after 1 year. Not too bad compared to some of the others.
 
I'm a UND type myself, I went there because it was cheaper than some while still having a strong program and was not just an aviation school like many others, giving you options for other non aviation classes and the actually chance of running into a girl every now and then(of course that could be a negative to others). ND winters are brutal but the people are real nice and college culture isn't bad, you'll have to learn to love hockey if you plan to make it though. I will go with upup89 and say don't forget the pay vs cost aspect of aviation, instructing pay sucks as do most(some get lucky or course) entry level jobs and I'm all about keeping your finances down. I'll also add that their are ways to skip the CRJ course depending on your major, I didn't see the point in taking it since I headed off into the corporate realm(and carriers will make you take their own crj training if they hire you anyway). Honestly it's all a flight hours game so rack up all you can.
 
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