Value of ERAU Master's Degree
 

Lori/All -

In your opinion, what would be the added value of a Master's Degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University?
When most places ask if you have an advanced degree they don't necessarily care what the degree is or where it came from; but if you are trying to get into an aviation related field - does the name recognition buy you anything?

USMCFLYR

What "field" are looking at? If you want to be a line pilot then I'd say that it will give you a very minimal edge only in showing that you are very dedicated to an aviation career path. I wouldn't think that it worth the time or money from a career standpoint as far as the line pilot thing goes. Of course personal betterment is never a bad thing and a masters degree does open doors as a professor in a higher learning environment if that floats your boat.

If you are looking to get into the management side or some kind of technical field such as safety or accident investigation it would definitely be a pretty big leg up.
I hear a lot of BS about Riddle but I can tell you this, in my new hire class at UAL back in the day when UAL was the place to be. Out of 21 guys 11 were Riddle grads. A Riddle degree does not hurt you in the aviation field.

Thanks airhoss - I'll pass that along.
Yes - this really is for friend:)

ERAU has a mixed reputation...their enginering is supposed to be pretty decent, but flight ops gets a bad rap due to high prices and the rich-kid attitudes of some graduates.

If you look at simple statistics, a masters will improve your odds of getting a major airline job. However...

I think the reason for that is that many folks hired by majors are ex-military, and a lot of them got an all-expenses-paid trip to PG school while on AD. I think they got hired because of their military background, and OBTW also happened to have been to grad school somewhere along the line.

Factor that out, and a masters probably doesn't have a huge impact, but I would think it does count for something. I think the rule of thumb is get your ratings and experience first, and only then commit the resources for a masters...ie 737 type before masters.

I'm going to assume that this person is interested in some field in aviation - whether it be flying or some other aspect of aviation. I understand what you are saying about having got your masters at a Staff college - and a point that I made earlier in my post. Not much value added in a MMS (Master of Military Studies) except to be able to mark a box on an application that asks if you have a higher education degree.

In his case he doesn't have to worry about the ratings or experience part (except for the type rating) so I think that he was more interested in getting an idea from others in the industry if it would help him get an airline job.

USMCFLYR

Rick,

Not trying to be confrontational here at all. I have a couple of questions. With whom that matters does ERAU have a mixed reputation?

It is sure as heck not with any Major airline. I've worked for two majors and both had boat loads of ERAU grads. Including many of the military guys being ERAU grads. An aviation degree from ERAU, SIU, UND, Perdue or wherever shows a strong dedication to the career field and it always looks good on an airline application. One is not better than the other as where you got your initial flight training does not really mean squat after 8 years of military flying or 5,000 hours of civilian flying about the time you become competitive for a major airline job.

Where can I find statistics that show a masters degree will improve your odds of getting a major airline job? I've never seen that before nor do I find it to be the case with the vast majority of major airline pilots. Only a very small percentage have masters degrees.

Riddle allows full-time flight instructors to take 6-7 credits for free per semester towards either an undergraduate or graduate degree. Considering the current state of the U.S. economy, it may not be a bad idea to earn your MBA at Riddle. Although the University does not offer the reputable name of a big time MBA program, it still provides its employees the opportunity to earn a free graduate degree. While earning your masters you will not have to worry about job security (because students are always feeding into the propaganda and enrolling), you will fly often, and you will have benefits. Furthermore, the MBA will provide you with a graduate degree to fall back on in the future.

As a third year student and part-time flight instructor at Riddle, I plan to take advantage of the MBA program as well. I always read on APC how so many pilots are tired of the industry and want to leave and yet, they have no degree to fall back on. The industry and the economy are struggling right now and competition will remain stiff for years, especially if the U.S. goes into a recession. Earn lots of experience instructing, build hours, earn the masters degree in the field of your choice, and enter the industry on the upswing (hopefully) with competitive numbers.

Just my two cents...

Thanks for the input!
This prson is probably looking to do his degree on-line. He already has an instructing job and it keeps him way too busy :)
The military will take care of his job security :)
I'm sure that he is hoping about joining the industry at an upswing - but I don't know if he is planning on getting out any time soon.

Keep the advice coming gents. I've given him the info for this site so I hope that he'll sign on soon and prove to you that I really am asking for someone else!!! :D

USMCFLYR

Line captains, who fly with new FO's (especially in the last 2-3 years). Some line pilots get involved in hiring. Personally I have never met an ERAU grad who fit the stereotype...the ones I know are all great folks, although most regret the outstanding loan balance. The stereotype is out there, but I'm sure it would only affect regional hiring....by the time you get to the major level it would be irrelevant I think.

Kit Darby publishes those kinds of stats.

Like I said, I think that the reason a masters degree APPEARS to give you a hiring edge is only because many military pilots happen to have one. This makes it appear statistically that a masters will get you hired more often, when really it's military flying experience that will get you hired.

I do think a masters will give you a slight edge, but not much. IIRC some airlines score applicants on a point system, and a graduate degree will have a point value.

I think a Master's is nice but at Riddle you pay a champagne price for a beer taste. Many of the degrees you find at Riddle can be found elsewhere for cheaper. One advantage of the place though is the ability to do the online courses.