Crazy Canuck

I'm just wondering how a BS in Aeronautics from Embry Riddle received online compares to a business degree from another accredited online school. I'm looking to finish my education and complete my bachelors degree. I'm asking purely from an accreditation/recognition standpoint, and not from a 'which is better for my career' angle.

How will prospective employers feel about it?
I've heard good things about ERAU, what are people's opinions on it?

Thanks,
CC

Crazy Canuck

For anyone who would like to comment on ERAU, consider the fact that I am considering it because they will give me 34 credits for having my ATP.

Thanks

satpak77

what does a BS in Aeronautics about. Can this be used in the non-aviation world if you loose your medical, etc ?

rickair7777

Nobody will care either way in aviation.

The issue is what happens if you need a fallback career, temporary or permanent? Business will be better than a flight ops degree as far as that goes, so I guess you need to weigh the cost of 34 credits versus having a fallback position.

unclecaptmike

With a BS in "Arrow-naugh-ticks" from ERAU and having a high GPA, I personally found that it does go a long way in the real world. Some how they figure us Pie-lits is smart.

JamesNoBrakes

Well, the answer to that is yes, if you are very smart and know all the aviation related things you can do besides piloting. The bigger answer is that any other degree is just as helpful in this respect, moreso if you have an interest or specialty outside of piloting.

Crazy Canuck

Yes, I have thought of that and am continuing to consider this.

I am more looking for peoples reactions toward ERAU itself. I read a lot of negative stuff here. Is that because the education is poor, or the flight training is a rip off?

I'm not doing the flight training, obviously, so that is out of the way...

rickair7777

The education (if you major in something that involves education) has always been decent and graduates used to be well-regarded.

But the costs sky-rocketed so the student demographic shifted to wealthy entitlement kids, SOME of whom have gone out into the profession with attitudes which are incompatible with the values of older generations of pilots. This created the stereotype of the cocky, entitled, gel-spiked hair, ipod wearing, bmw-driving, turbo-prop despising RJ FO from riddle.

But as long as you don't actually fit in those shoes, there won't be any stigma.

I tend to steer young people away from riddle because I have soooo many pilot friends who went there but wish they hadn't only because of the lifetime burden of student loans. I met a kid working on his PPL at my home drome whose parents were literally taking out another mortgage on the house to fund riddle...I actually went to the trouble to arrange a meeting with the 'rents and talked them out of it. Dude's going to State-U (couple grand per semester), living at home, and doing flight training locally. Still has some parental support (and a job) but will graduate with all ratings and no debt on anyone's part.

Crazy Canuck

More or less precisely what I'm wondering. Thanks for the answer Rickair, it will help me with my decision making process. I can assure you that I don't fit in to that RJ FO group. Or at least I hope I don't!!

Anyone else with an opinion please weigh in. Thanks to those that have

rcfd13

Everything Rickair said is spot on. I didn't go to ERAU but I do fall into the category of people who have an aviation degree but wish they didn't. I'm still paying back college loans and it's all basically for nothing. I'd have the same job I have now even if I had a business or engineering degree, and I'd be a lot more employable if I lose my medical or decide to leave the airlines. I wish I was paying back college loans right now to fund my engineering/business degree. Not my Aviation degree.

In 10 years you'll probably thank yourself if you don't major in Aviation or don't go to ERAU.