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Best University with flight program?

Old 07-31-2010, 06:24 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by erictgill View Post
US News does the rankings each year for Universities and Embry Riddle Daytona Campus has held the #1 in aviation for about as long as they have been ranking. USAF Academy is #2 and ERAU AZ Campus is #3
Which only tells me that US Snooze has no idea what they are talking about. As has previously stated, Riddle is NOT well regarded any more, which isn't to say some good people don't come out of there (I've flown with a couple). I do think those guys would have been successful almost any place they went, and I think they paid way too much for what they received.

If at all possible find a good in state school, pay in state tuition and get your degree there. Get a degree in something other than aviation (double major if you feel compelled to get an aviation degree).

All that said, I too am a Purdue grad (yes, in Aviation Technology - Flight and A&P). With the signing of the new aviation safety act pending, Purdue (with it's new fleet and existing program) seems to be somewhat uniquely positioned to fill the squares for the updated ATP requirements and/or the option to credit academic training hours towards the ATP. Not that other schools don't or won't find ways to do so as well, but Purdue has always been a bit unique in what their program has offered (generally in a good way in my opinion).
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Old 07-31-2010, 01:55 PM
  #22  
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you can pick and choose which school you think is the best but I know idiots who train with the AF Academy and ERAU.
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Old 07-31-2010, 03:18 PM
  #23  
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Also, when you're looking for a flight school to go to, keep in mind to always get a feel for not only the school itself, but the city/town the school is in. Let's be honest, you're not going to be doing aviation stuff 24/7, otherwise you'd burn yourself out. Make sure you get a taste of what the city is like, what the people are like, what the culture is like, and so on. Since you're essentially living there for the time you're going to school/instructing, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a place where you can't do the non-aviation things you love to do. I love to do things like write music, surf, go see other bands play, and ride hills on my longboard. Can't do any of that here.

There's plenty of great flight schools to choose from, and like everyone here says, AIRLINES DO NOT CARE WHERE YOU WERE TRAINED!!!! Good luck to you in picking a school out.
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Old 08-01-2010, 06:30 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by trafly View Post
DON'T GET AN AVIATION DEGREE!!!!

Pick a good school that offers both aviation and a degree in another field that is of interest to you. Get a "real" degree and do your flight training through the university. This way you have something else to fall back on in the event your aviation career hits a dead end. And as the previous poster stated, varied weather is your friend. It will make you a better pilot.


Purdue and UND both offer a wide variety of degree programs and have superb aviation departments. Remember that one of the great advantages of certain schools are the connections the have, such as internships, etc...

Here is a link to a listing of schools with aviation programs. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by TheReelDeel33 View Post
DON'T GET AN AVIATION DEGREE!!!!

Pick a good school that offers both aviation and a degree in another field that is of interest to you. Get a "real" degree and do your flight training through the university. This way you have something else to fall back on in the event your aviation career hits a dead end. And as the previous poster stated, varied weather is your friend. It will make you a better pilot.


That's exactly what i'm doing, except i'm getting the real degree and flight training through a community college so it is even cheaper than a university. Plus, even though it is out of county for me my designated community college does not offer aviation so I get to pay in county tuition. It also is close enough to home so that I can commute and still be a non-rent-paying/freeloading off my parents house kinda guy. After i'm done with the community college i'll transfer to one of the 4 year colleges around here for business admin (the real degree). I recommend trying to do something similiar if at all possible because this has been working out pretty well for me so far


There goes your answer you are looking for

University of North Dakota has a great Aviation Program and Off-course Embry Riddle if you have that kind of money to wash off. I found Riddle is a rip off after being their for a semester Only reason I am continuing with them is because of their world-wide online.

you have already got your answers form other aviators from this form, with that said, am going to stay that again, Do Not get a degree in Aviation...
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Old 09-03-2010, 07:51 PM
  #25  
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Is their any different between taking commecial pilot degree from community college and taking from university? And what other options do i have towards my career in aviation field? anybody have any idea?
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Old 10-06-2010, 09:21 AM
  #26  
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I attended ERAU at Daytona. All major Universities with flight programs are all, at a minimum, good and highly regarded in the industry. Picking a university based on a technical degree is confusing. Pick a school that fits your personality and career trajectory as best you can with what you know. So, learn as much as you can about your choices and go forward.

I'm from Illinois. My choices back in the day were ERAU, UND, Parks College at SLU, SIU and Lewis University. At 18 I wanted to be as far away from where I grew up and be a pilot.

I'd go to Riddle all over again. My connections to the ERAU network and AHP have helped me get nearly all of my flying jobs. I'm sure, without a doubt, that the same can be said for any other major university. Good luck!

Tailwinds...
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Old 10-06-2010, 09:28 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by g159av8tor View Post
I attended ERAU at Daytona. All major Universities with flight programs are all, at a minimum, good and highly regarded in the industry. Picking a university based on a technical degree is confusing. Pick a school that fits your personality and career trajectory as best you can with what you know. So, learn as much as you can about your choices and go forward.

I'm from Illinois. My choices back in the day were ERAU, UND, Parks College at SLU, SIU and Lewis University. At 18 I wanted to be as far away from where I grew up and be a pilot.

I'd go to Riddle all over again. My connections to the ERAU network and AHP have helped me get nearly all of my flying jobs. I'm sure, without a doubt, that the same can be said for any other major university. Good luck!


Tailwinds...

The best benefit of going to an aviation related school is the connections and aviation related experiences. You would be surprised at the schools that have aviation programs. You can go to a very small school that is mostly aviation, like I did, or a huge school that is only a fraction aviation, like I should have (Purdue, SIU, UND). What is going to matter at those schools is the people you meet through clubs, organizations (fellow AHPer), classes and anything else. Like g159 said... I, too, have found most my aviation related jobs through connections I made through school. Don't make yourself fit the school, pick a region and school that fits you, and then hopefully they have aviation.
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Old 10-07-2010, 05:18 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post

US news is obviously clueless about the process, and Riddle flight training in no way compares to USAF flight training.
I love how ERAU grads think they attended the "Harvard of the skies""! It seriously cracks me up. I was a CFI, CFII, did 61, 91, 141 stuff, and have been employed by part 91, 135, and now 121 carriers. I also attended Ohio University (currently number 2 party school in the nation). The strange thing is that every GLEIM test I ever took was either A, B, or C.

Personally, I'm glad I didn't have to write a 40 plus page thesis on the degrading economics of the secondary health industry in developing countries. I was happy just going to ground schools for whatever rating i was going for, and taking the same test everyone else takes to get to the very same place. Ohhhh, and living next to the largest all girl dormitory in the midwest didnt hurt my social life either.

Congradulations, if you went to ERAU, you overpaid for less of a life experiance. But hey, you attended Harvard, and got better training than the military pilots!!! Hooray!!!
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Old 10-07-2010, 06:56 PM
  #29  
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Find the best school for whatever degree you are seeking. After you get settled down at school go to the closest municipal airport and check out the flight schools. You see every college in america offers flight training they just don't know it. Plus when you get done you will have more money in your pocket or less debt. Just depends on how you are paying for school. JMHO
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Old 10-08-2010, 01:12 PM
  #30  
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I agree with those who say not to get an aviation degree. I would also advise to stay away from private aviation universities.

In the end it is all about bang for the buck. I would recommend a public state university, preferably in-state. There have been several studies over the last few years and state universities end up being ranked for best value - quality of education, earning potential after graduation at lowest cost.

If you are totally set on getting an aviation degree, there are plenty of state schools with good solid programs. Do not let titles like "Harvard of the Skies" and fancy brochures con you into spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, because in the end you get furloughed based on seniority, not alma mater. And when walking the unemployment line the lower the student loan debt, the better off you will be.
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