Prescott Riddle grad, DEEP in student loan debt almost 20 years later.

Tried any flying job (graduated with CAMEL, instrument rated in a twin, and CFI) but couldnt get anything close to allowing me to live indoors and eat on a regular basis.

The riddle "career center" was a joke. The students that worked in there funneled the great opportunities (and those were pretty rare) to friends. I dont think I ever got anything other than an offer to fly a banner from a 150 in Florida (I moved to PHX). The guy was nice enough to let me know when not flying, I would have to clean airplanes and hangars. I passed on that opportunity.

I did have a great time flying skydivers, that was enjoyable, if only a time builder in a complex aircraft.

Ultimately, my Aeronautical Science degree on the wall does serve a purpose. It hides a hole on the wall. (ok, thats a sarcastic remark, but one I use frequently)

I took a job at a city police department, and since then Ive had health insurance, a decent income (75K) and I havent had to worry about a furlough or base displacement.

Do I miss it? Hell Yea. Every time I go to an airport on vacation, I drool through the terminals and follow the crew around like a lost puppy.

Im still waiting on the 'pilot shortage' that the ERAU recruiter teams spouted was on the way when they came to my high school aviation class.

I was lucky enough to get my aviation start in high school. I wasnt old enough to get a drivers license, but I could fly an airplane through New York Airspace..... figure that one out.

As I watch everyone loosing their jobs in this economy one has to dig deep to see if they can stay the course to get into a major airline seat.

I did enjoy the classes (well maybe not the math and physics) at ERAU, but the location in Prescott just plain sucked. The campus was a downtrodden group of buildings, and the airport was a few miles down the road. When you are one of the guys without a car, it was pretty difficult.

Would I reccomend anyone spend the cash ERAU wants? NO WAY.

If you want a Riddle degree, get as many classes as you can that will transfer at a local community college. I got there with my private and got credit for a couple flight classes too. If you can get at least that before you start there, it will help.

I got about half way through when I figured out that they were way overpriced for what I was going to get out of it. I chose to finish rather than loose what I had already had completed.

Just be aware, I dont think the Riddle name will get you into any airline seats. I know of 3 guys in the years I spent at Riddle that actually fly for an airline today. The rest that graduated gave up and took other jobs.

Good luck.