DeadPilotsSoc

Hi jdebrey -

I went to UND, so take this with that in context. While there are certainly more economical routes (generally speaking, the cost of flight training alone can be done more cheaply outside of a university). But there is a lot to be said for quality flight training and the level of aviation education you can get at an excellent aviation university. Further, having an AABI accredited school on your resume is very valuable at major airlines like DAL/UAL/AAL and others. An aviation university makes you a professional pilot. I can't say that any FBO training course necessarily does that.

You're going to have to spend money even a basic business degree, plus the cost of flight training at any flight school or FBO. At a place like UND, you're paying for a liberal arts degree that's actually probably cheaper than schools in Minnesota (say for instance, UofM). So in addition to that degree, you'll have to pay for your flight training there (roughly $60K-$80K from start through finish). UND offers top notch aeronautical education and a great way to learn about the industry.

A couple of things to look at in the sphere of economics and usability of an aviation degree:

1) getting a generic degree is fairly simple, but it still costs your time and money (be honest with yourself regarding that value of any ole degree - business degrees are a dime a dozen). Further, you'd likely have to complete, or nearly complete a generic degree before you could pour yourself into full time flight training. Now you're extending the footprint of your career progression. You'd graduate with a generic business degree, then spend roughly 2-3 years training and accumulating hours as an instructor to go your first airline. This means that you'd be roughly 25-26 years old at a minimum. This is compared to most people who finish UND with degree and training in hand who only spend a 1.5 earning hours flight instructing. Many people I know at UND left for an airline at age 22-23.

2) An aviation degree does not limit you to only being a pilot. There are many jobs in the aviation industry where you can use your skills as a pilot and knowledge in aviation to hold a job (aircraft and is one area I can think of in particular). So it's not necessarily true that a "degree in flying" is all you can do with that degree.

It is certainly good to have a fall back, but a business degree with no experience in business is no fallback. An aviation degree, with some airline experience, then maybe a graduate degree in business, now that is valuable and can be used as a fallback.

I don't think you'd meet very many UND alum who regret going. The cost of getting into the industry is high no matter how you go about it, so get the biggest bang for your buck.

Let me also add that you're very much on the right track by asking these questions. It shows motivation, and you will do well no matter what track you decide. Further, I decided to go to UND because of someone on a forum who talked to highly of the school.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more details. If you haven't yet, do go tour the school. Besides winters so cold your testicles ascend into your sternum for 6 months, it's a great school with a wonderful campus, and close to your home in Minnesota.

Swedish Blender

How and why are those the only 2 schools? What was the thought process that eliminated all other choices?

DeadPilotsSoc

I'll second that. Perdue, Western Michigan, Mankato, University of Nebraska - Omaha. All wonderful schools in the midwest that are warmer [than UND] and cheaper [than ERUA].

BrewCity

How are your grades? If they're good enough, try for UW-Madison and get a degree in something useful. It's a great school in an even better city. You'll get reciprocity for tuition. Learn to fly at MSN ... a few good flight schools on the field.

jdebrey

Mainly because of the financial aid packages I received from those schools, along with UND being in-state tuition since I'm from Minnesota

BoilerUP

That economic reality is reason enough to never consider Riddle.

Tays

Like others have said, your medical is a huge factor in all of this. If you're able to get a degree in something non aviation related, go for it. Get your certs the cheapest way possible if you wish to continue on your path.

If getting a degree in aviation is what your set on, go to UND. It is a fraction of the cost compared to ERUA. I personally graduated from UND with an aviation degree. Some of my coworkers went to ERUA and said they made a mistake (financially).

Don't get me wrong, ERUA is a fantastic school, but it is so expensive. If you plan on going through school on loans, you can be looking at ~200k debt. I was able to get some help from family, but I worked full time during college and walked across the stage with about ~50k debt going up through my CFI.

If you want the "college experience" UND is your choice. Be smart, hangout with the right crowd, and don't get an underage. North Dakota is a huge drinking state. Be careful. The winters suck but you get to experience some amazing aircraft performance when its -20 lol.

Just my two cents.

Flyguy4723

Don't go to a 141 university collegiate program. Get your ratings at a 61 flight school and get a degree in something like Finance or Engineering.

Flyguy4723

Most of the 141 collegiate programs are very similar. If I had to pick out of the top schools again I would probably pick Purdue because you get a really good aviation program and a B1G 10 school experience. Western probably has a little bit better aviation program overall but Purdue will give you much more of a colllege life... plus it's in a safer city

Humey

Not at pilot but I am paying for my son to finish his Pilot degree at Purdue before he commissions as a pilot in the Air Force. I would like to make one comment on getting a degree in another field so you have something to fall back on. If someone were to get a degree in accounting and work for several years flying, he or she wouldnt be my first choice to hire (I had a CPA office) when they cant fly anymore and decide to use their degree in accounting. A 35 year old person (for example) with an accounting degree but with no actual work experience wouldn't be someone I would hire. I have to imagine that would hold true for all of the other degrees. So sure, if you get a degree in another field and actually work in it, that would be fine but getting an engineering degree and then trying to get their first engineering job 10 plus years after graduating isnt going to work out that well. Nothing wrong in minoring in accounting or other field, but I dont think getting a degre in another field is going to get you anywhere if you dedicate your first 10 years to flying