University of North Dakota, or Embry Riddle?
 

Hi im a sophmore in Highschool i train at a local FBO i have around 15 hours im 15 and i want to become an airline pilot i turn 17 in 2 yrs so i have plenty of time to get My ppl when i go to college or University i will have my ppl already But theres one thing that trips my mind UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA OR EMBRY RIDDLE idk which one i know they r both expensive ive heard bad things about embry riddle and bad things about UND everywhere will have bad reviews the money to attend ERAU is around 140K with the avaition course i plan to get a bussiness degree idk which one to go to ive heard ppl say they went to ERAU and loved it and i heard ppl say they didnt same with UND I want to become an airline pilot of course i have to start off in the regionals which i wouldnt mind at all i love the crj's alotttt and the 737-700. Ive also heard that if you go to Embry riddle you can get in the airlines alott fasterand another i heard when you graudate from Embry riddle you get out of ERAU with 250 hours

Ready . . . in three, two, one . . .

I see you're new here, so I'll try and jump in before others pile on you. If you use the search function, you will find there are MANY threads here on this basic topic.

I'll save you a few hours of reading and summarize:

Don't go to either of these schools (unless UND happens to be in state for you). Almost every state has a college with a decent aviation program. Go to whatever one is in state (unless you can get a huge grant or scholarship elsewhere), major in something else (so you have viable career options outside of aviation in case things don't work out for some reason, or you have a change of heart later), take the ground courses as a minor, and fly where ever it's least expensive.

Airlines really don't care what you're degree is in or what school you went to, as long as it's a well accredited school - again virtually any state school will fill this bill nicely. DO NOT buy into the hype about any particular school.

Unless things change a lot in the next six years or so (which is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it), you will be spending a lot of time earning very little after you graduate college. You're going to have to have your ATP before you can get on at a regional, and building that first thousand hours of time is typically difficult and pays very little. Even once you reach a regional, you're going to earn lousy wages for several years. Conserving any money you may have and/or minimizing your debt will give you flexibility you will need to seize opportunities which may present themselves.

Also, for heavens sake do not get married or worse yet start a family (unless your wife is independently wealthy and extremely indulgent of your desires - again, don't bet on that one).

You can also search on here and find about a thousand threads discouraging anyone from entering this profession at this juncture, but that's another topic you can peruse at another time.

OK, two analogies, then Ill step back...

1. A degree is a piece of paper. Doesn't matter what is it in, it is a piece of paper.

On that note, do you really think a piece of paper that says you graduated in Aeronautical Science or whatever have you makes you a better pilot?

2. On the road to the airlines, there are choices of how to get there. Lets say your Riddle/UND is a BMW, and flying through your local FBO is a Honda. There are speed limits (regs) and cops (feds) all waiting for you to screw up and slow you down.

Go at it sanely, and you WILL reach your destination. But compare a BMW versus a Honda...how much more did you spend or save to get to the same place?

These guys give really good points but im going to touch on debt alittle more. ERAU and UND are both very good and very expensive schools. Tuition alone at ERAU is enough to leave you suffering for years and thats not even including the flight fees and housing. UND can be affordable IF you are paying the in-state tuition price.
One thing you dont want is to walk away from college with a student loan. As an entry level pilot there will not be enough room to survive makeing a crap wage and paying student loans. If you are set on an Aviation Degree then I would recommend getting an Associates Degree from a small community college. Do your 4 semesters and go from there. Community college are usually affordable and you wont be paying an outragous tuition. After your Associates you can decide if you want to transfer to a University to get the bachelors or if you want to major in something else. Majoring in something else is something most would recommend. You'll have your Associates in Aviation and a Degree in a field of your choice. This would also allow you as a CFI-II to build hours while you attend school.
Never EVER get a loan from a private party bank like sallie mae.

Holy run-on sentence batman!! While I hate being the grammar nazi, some punction to seperate thoughts would go a long way to getting your point across more effectively. I had to read your post a few times to figure out where thoughts began and ended.

Maybe a degree in english composition couldn't hurt:p

I'll second everything said. I've hired ERAU grads and they are not better pilots. The only difference between them and any other pilot, is that the ERAU pilot "thinks" they are better. Your flight instructor at riddle is a student who's been there a year or two more than you. Is that who you want to learn from? My first instructor had 30,000 hours TT.

ERAU is a fine school, BUT it is NOT worth the price.

1. Go to a normal college with girls and football. Get a non-aviation degree. Something that you can make money with as you struggle as a pilot would be good.
2. Get your flight training done at the local airport. Part 91 or 141 doesn't matter.
3. Get all your ratings through CFII/MEI. Don't focus on G1000 vs. steam or its cruising speed. Fly the cheapest thing you can. 1 hour TT is 1 hour TT, no one cares what you fly. A C150 is just fine. You will need multi-time eventually, that is different.
4. Take any flying job anywhere. Instructor, bush, traffic watch, banner tow, etc. You need time, don't be picky. For example: "I want to stay in California", but the jobs are in Texas. Go anywhere.
5. Network.

I've been an instructor, corportate pilot, regional pilot, and major airline pilot. I have every airplane rating and 7 type ratings. I have 14,000 hours. I soloed on my 16th birthday. I was 39 when hired at a major. I live in a cheap house and drive a car worth $1000. I have debt and no savings. Learn from my mistakes. It's not an easy career.

I wouldn't do anything else though. Good luck.

Ok i understand everyone here is concerned about Debt and money situations and i understand what you mean.BTW sorry if i did runon sentences it was 2 in the morning when i posted it.Well see like im supposed to move to Florida in my senior year,My whole family is.The place here in TN is funded by a college so i get 2 yrs free at a local college.What i will do is maybe move to Sanford when i graduate take a 2 yr community college and go to here Aerosim Technologies – Aerosim Flight Academy – Aerosim Training Services and then after aerosim finish my rest of 2 yrs at embry riddle cause ill have instate tution Tell me what you think? .Aerosim offers Quality Airline training you gain up to 800 hours.I have a friend that go's there and he said hes already spent abotu 50K but yet he has 750 hours.Also i want to become a flight instructor at a school to gain extra hours.Community college and Aerosim is looking better and better from these discouragments to not go to UND or ERAU

Sounds like a plan the only issue is that ERAU is a private university and only offers tuition at a flat rate. 1,190 per credit hr roughly 29,720 per year - This is according to college board College Search - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - ERAU - Cost & Financial Aid
If you transfer your going to end up tagging on 60k on top of your community college debt (if any).
Broward College in Ft Lauderdale, FL. offers a Associates in Aviation and I believe they have a partnership with Aerosim Academy. The Tuition cost is very reasonable and the only concern you should have is paying flight fees. Make sure your 2 years of free college includes lab fees and if so how much. As Far as transfering to ERAU keep your options open for now. When the time comes for transfering see what choices you have and which best fits you.
I'll be attending Aerosim next month in Houston, im doing the same type of program at a 2yr community college here. Aerosim bought out Delta Connection Academy about a year ago so the operations is undergoing many changes. From what I have herd Delta Connection Academy had alot of bugs in its system.

Yeah i know what you mean i know Riddle is veryy outragous but i heard and talked to alot of pilots who graudated from there. It makes me want to go there but i mean like the comminuty college for 2 yrs isnt bad plus aerosim flight academy.Such a hard descion im going to Florida and North dakota in the summer, to check out both universitys so when im down there im going to Check up: on aerosim flight academy,ERAU ,and in North Dakota im going to see UND

There are many different options of Universities in FL that have aviation programs with them outside of ERAU. Florida Institue of Tech, Florida Memorial University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville University, Miami-Dade College are just a few that participate in NIFA (National Intercollegiate Flying Association), which is only a list of schools that have teams that participate in the competitions. Keep your eyes open and look at a bunch of different schools. Keep an open mind to all of the schools and then sit down and think what is the best for YOU. Just my .02