I went to a state university. Affordable in-state tuition, and flight costs were comparable to around the country. Graduated in 2017, 4 year degree, everything except CFI. Total bill was in the mid-$70K. Flight costs were in the $55k realm, tuition was $2300-2500 per semester.

Taking a a quick look at that MTSU site, it can be pricey if you’re out of state and load up. The ridiculous course load of 21 (I did 18-20 some semesters, but many had an online option for those of us attending in person so that made it pretty tolerable) for an out of state would be $15K per semester. That’s nuts. If you look at the in state side, it’s $5K. If you look at the more typical 12-15 range, it’s $4000-4500 per semester. Much more tolerable than the $12K per semester you mentioned. But still almost double what my tuition was. Our out of state tuition was also about 3x. more expensive, about $7k per semester. But one really big advantage is the university capped tuition costs at the 12 credit mark. Or in other words, it scaled up from 1 credit similar to this, but didn’t go up in price above 12 credits. So you could do 12 or 16 or 18, all for the same cost.

Anyway. This is what I tell everyone. Aviation degrees, in the right circumstances for the right people, can be a good avenue. But please please please do your homework. Talk to past students. Meet with advisors. Look at the fees. See if they have incentives like the WUE program to lower tuition costs. And I would almost guarantee your state has a college program, and many of those have decent in state rates. Don’t move and go to Purdue or WMU or UND just because that’s the big name and all you hear about. No one cares where you attended, so just to where it’s affordable and you can get good grades.