BoilerUP

I went to Purdue...the AvTech program is excellent there but there are also many opportunities for other highly-acclaimed academic programs (management, engineering, etc), not to mention that Aviation Technology is roughly 600-700 students out of a campus of 38,000.

The flight fees are quite reasonable when you compare the cost apples to apples, but the tuition is fairly steep for out-of-staters (like I was). I thought I had an AFROTC scholarship to cover it, but it didn't work out medically for me.

I'd highly recommend exploring Purdue if a collegiate aviation program is what you desire, although regardless of where you go (ERAU, UND, WMU, Parks, SIU, UIUC, OSU, The OSU, etc etc) the name on the degree isn't what will help you down the road - its the networking you'll do while in school, that you very likely wouldn't get training your local FBO. Of course that's no reason to go into massive debt...but it IS something to consider.

Intl Jumper

Try Ohio University in Athens.... Glass cockpit, Baron/Bonanza.... not to mention the school itself. Great place, great school...

timman19

Regardless of the school you select, it is what you make it. I went to ERAU and graduated from there in 1990. On all of the job interviews I ever did as a pilot, no one ever laughed at me and no was blown away or overly impressed that I went there.

No regrets though especially considering that things worked out pretty well for me after I graduated from there.

crewdawg

Great school and an even better place to party, but as far as the flight program....WAY overpriced, not as bad as ERAU but still to high. Let's be honest is there any reason to get your twin in a baron and pay over 2x the cost to get it in a seminole. Same with the the Bonanza, way to much money to get your cert/rating.

IMHO, training in glass is way over rated. It's a great way to bring in new kids, fascinated by the latest and greatest technology. But lets face it, the transition over to glass is not that hard. I thought going from glass back to dials was much harder.

Like I said before....If I had it to do over again, I would get my degree at a decent state school. Then I would find a good FBO that I could get all my ratings. You will save $$$ and I think learn a great deal more.

141 programs are ok but I wouldn't recommend them (141 graduate here). First, way to oriented toward everyone going to the airlines. So much so that when people mention going to fly night freight (or anything other than a regional for that matter), you get the "are you crazy" look. Second, it's WAY to structured, I think this kept people from learning the basic skill set of JUDGEMENT. There are so many rules and regs from the school that kids lose out on the decision making of something as basic as the "go/no-go" decision. It's already answered for you! Third, way to oriented toward regional airlines. Finally, it takes way to long to get through your ratings...and I got through mine faster than most.

Oh and if a school tries to sell the school with them offering a CRJ tranistion course for thousands of dollars....run away, fast! This is the biggest scam ever! Hint...if you get hired to fly a CRJ, that company will pay YOU to go through sim training...what a novel idea.

Met a kid the other day that started flying at a local FBO when he started college. He was able to get get through is CFII/MEI in less than a year and a half. By instructing people other than other 141 students he made many connections, with very nice aircraft. So now he has flown numerous aircraft (other than the standard 3-4 at a school). Not to mention he is regularly flying a Cessna 310 (getting that ever sought after twin time). He is also getting time in a U206 (no real significance other than me loving that plane). Anyway he is a junior in college and has ~900 TT and about ~200 multi. I think you would be hard pressed to find a 141 program that would lend itself to having students with this kind of time by the middle of their junior year.

As far as the USAFA post...go there if you want but I would go to a real college and get a real college experience! My roommates in pilot training went to the academy and hated hearing my stories of college. Had numerous zoomie friends, most regretted it, some did not. With UAV's dropping left and right, I don't think I would risk going through 4 years of bull only to get stuck flying a RC airplane....just food for thought. Go Guard!

vbflying

There's a lot to look at in picking a college. Price is of course important, but can be kept to a minimum if you don't require a lot of extra training (Study/can fly well). All flight training cost a large amount of money, just make sure you're not going to be overpaying a ridiculous amount of money for it.
I am a junior at a small (1000ish people) liberal arts college that has an aviation flight degree program. It's for me, I love having the ability to learn about something other than aviation (sanity keeper). HectorD is right, you will get the exact same FAA certificate at them all. Really pick somewhere you like. Talk to the students who go there (Facebook, while you visit, etc..). If you pick somewhere for the "reputation" or because they "offer" the best product, what would be the good in attending that college if you didn't enjoy your four years there.
I got my Private at an FBO in high school then instrument and commercial at a university. I preferred the university training over the FBO. It was competitive in price for my circumstance and more in depth. I have a bunch of freinds at schools (offering flight) all over the country if you have any specific questions. I really haven't ever heard any terrible horror stories from the majority of university/college flight programs.

Here are some places I looked at/attended when I was looking for places to go:
Daniel Webster College
Averett University
Liberty University
U of Alaska Anchorage
Dowling College
Westminster College
ERAU
Jacksonville University
Fairmount State
Middle Tennesse State

All have their strong and weak points-just gotta find your fit! (hit me up if you have any questions)

mjarosz

Saw you put Daniel Webster (aka ITT Tech now) first.

CaptainTeezy

A degree in Aviation is WORTHLESS! I know I have one...All the aviation "college programs" are garbage. Anyone who says one is better than the other is either a moron, or trying to steal your money. Get a degree in something NOT AVIATION. Trust me on this...I am going back to school just for this reason.

blastoff

Go to a school with NCAA Division 1 sports. You'll have an actual campus life. Major in anything you want (including Aviation). Worthless diploma mills don't have NCAA D1 sports. Most people who struggle on the outside and blame it on their Aviation degree most likely didn't go to a nice, big, well respected State University. Entry level jobs can get you anywhere even if you didn't major in Business provided you minored in something (like business) or have work experience (temp agency), buy a decent suit and don't come off as a schmuck in an interview.

When you decide to go post-Graduate...then go for the MBA.

Climbto450

[quote=BoilerUP;728441]I went to Purdue...the AvTech program is excellent there but there are also many opportunities for other highly-acclaimed academic programs (management, engineering, etc), not to mention that Aviation Technology is roughly 600-700 students out of a campus of 38,000.

The flight fees are quite reasonable when you compare the cost apples to apples, but the tuition is fairly steep for out-of-staters (like I was). I thought I had an AFROTC scholarship to cover it, but it didn't work out medically for me.

I'd highly recommend exploring Purdue if a collegiate aviation program is what you desire, although regardless of where you go (ERAU, UND, WMU, Parks, SIU, UIUC, OSU, The OSU, etc etc) the name on the degree isn't what will help you down the road - its the networking you'll do while in school, that you very likely wouldn't get training your local FBO. Of course that's no reason to go into massive debt...but it IS something to consider.[/quote

I couldn't agree more, the networking you will do in college will help you tremendously later. Perdue has a great well respected aviation network and you get the benefit of a good campus life as well. I went to ERAU and I can't tell you how many times it has helped me get jobs over the years. If you are serious about a lifetime carrier in aviation Perdue, ERAU, and UND are the big three. The people that will hire you most likely will have either gone to one of these schools or have a high opinion of these schools. These big three have a large percentage of the educated pilot community. In the big picture where you decide to go only makes a small difference in your success. For example, one of my best friends flys 737 FO for Delta and has a geography degree from CSUN and his grades weren't even all that good.

timman19

I couldn’t agree more with you. Avoid them especially considering the economic environment right now. I have one from ERAU. Of course, things were a lot different back then when I got my degree.

In fact, I feel really bad for any aviation major coming out of school over the next couple of years. No one is hiring. I don’t expect much hiring at all until perhaps late next year and maybe even later than that. I only hope that current students have something else to fall back on.

Last week, I was talking to a current ERAU student prior to a flight who came up to me and started a conversation. He is set to graduate this May and knows that his chances of actually using that degree right away are pretty remote. He’s doing the smart thing and looking at other areas to work in at least until things improve.