Here is my two cents. If you can afford flight training on your own, Kudos to you because most of us can't. If you don't want military and can't afford it. Then you're going to have to get some serious loans $50K and up (mostly from Sallie Mae) for the actual flight training. Academics can be done from using government financial aid. Not to promote military service, but you can get the G.I. Bill that will cover 60% of training after your PPL. All you have to do is serve for a minimum of 30 months and you qualify. Thats how I'm doing my career training.