SkyWolf

I keep hearing it recommended to get my training and ratings at the local FBO, rather than through college. Why? I'm going to need the 4-year degree anyway, so why not attend college, take the flight training there, but get a degree in something unrelated? How is it cheaper to pay for training at a flight school (that most likely doesn't accept/qualify for any financial aid), and have to pay for college on top of that?
Is there something I'm missing here?

(For clarification, "college" means any college offering training, not just those ERAU-type places)

HercDriver130

The cost per flight hour will be less, the schedule to get you rated will most likely be more flexible.... etc.

UAL T38 Phlyer

That's like asking: "Why is it cheaper to hire the next-door teenager to babysit instead taking my kid to a day-care center?"

Or: "Why is it cheaper to go to a recommended small-garage mechanic instead of the dealership for repair work?"

Last: "Why does this great family restaurant have bigger portions, lower prices, and better service than the nationally recognized chain?"

Simple answer: overhead and corporate mark-up.

Go to college for an education. Go to a recommended FBO for flying training. (That's what I did).

HSLD

How many college aviation programs have you found that will allow you to participate in flight training without taking the the core aviation courses? You can always major in non-aviation subjects, but if you're going to fly the university aircraft most (if not all) will require you to attend the aviation classes. I can't think of a single example that does not.

There's your added time and expense.

atpwannabe

I'm a Riddle grad....1987 that is! Riddle cost me just about $25,000.00 for 4 years. That's tuition, books, room & board. Back then, the Air Science -(pilot program) was about 50K....total.

Currently, the Aeronautical Science (pilot program) at ERAU is in excess of 225K. You'll be paying back on a loan until the "12th of NEVER".

Purdue University cost is approx. $165,000.00.....maybe more. Not sure about Ohio State, UND, Florida Memorial or any other university that offers an aviation program.

Like the previous posters said, "go to a state university and major in something other than aviation and train at an FBO. You'll save goo-gobs of cash!




atp

l1011

Utah Valley University is one. You can get your ratings anywhere you want as long as you get them and show the proof.

Bellanca

U of Illinois was one... But the last I heard was that they were closing their program .

You could major in anything and still take flight courses, and the flight courses counted towards gen-eds and general credits for many majors. Also, their flight fees were in the ballpark of FBOs in the area.

To the OP - you may find a university program that is similar in cost to a 4-year degree + FBO program. Look around and do your homework. But if you don't have a college that you can get instate tuition or really good financial aid at, then you will likely spend a lot more than going the FBO route. Also, some of my student loans from college have very low interest rates 4-5%. The career training loan I took out to get my CFI/II/MEI outside of a college was 14%. Depending on how you are paying for college and flight school, and what is available to you, this could be another factor in your decision.

IMO, if a college flight program is going to cost $10K or more than a 4 year degree + FBO, then the added cost is definitely going to outweigh possible benefits like alumni networks. If the price difference is only a couple thousand, the added benefits may be worth the additional cost. Do your homework and know what you are getting yourself into.

LongFlight

I'm in flight training at Auburn University. If you need help paying for it, I would say go for the college flight training. For the non-degree program, you have to open an account with $3,000 in it initially. After that, you have to maintain a minimum of $750 in order to fly. With the degree program (Professional Flight Management) it is all taken care of by financial aid. I already had my financial aid for this semester but did not realize I needed more for each flight. I spoke with the flight ops director and she wrote a letter to the financial aid office so I could get enough aid to pay for my flights. If I tried to do the non-degree program it would take a long time for me just because of the cost so the degree program helped me a lot. If you can afford to do flight training at an FBO and college somewhere else then go for it but if you are like me and you don't come from money and recently got married then check out some colleges and see what they have to offer. If you want the breakdown of the costs here at Auburn I would be more than happy to post them so you can compare them to other colleges or an FBO.

As far as scheduling is concerned, I turned in my class schedule and they built my flight schedule around that. I fly Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:30am - 11:30am. I'm not sure how that compares to an FBO as far as how often you would fly with them but if there is a scheduling conflict, they will work with you.

If you do a degree program at a college, find out what type of degree it is. We have a student who came down from Chicago because all of the colleges with flight degrees up there are tech degrees. At Auburn, it is a business degree so it will go a lot farther if you decide you do not want to fly as a profession down the road. Yes you have to take the prereqs for the major (accounting, finance, economics, etc...) and it is a pain but with a business degree, you can do pretty much anything pertaining to any business. Just something to think about.

ash2ash

Thanks LongFlight, I'd considered flying schools up until now and as an international student, its really out of reach for someone who does not have the funds to pay for it all. I hold an Bachelors Engineering Degree and Im wondering if any of you all here know of any Post Graduate/Masters level Flight Training programs at Universities in USA or Canada.

I've found a few A.A.S programs and some diploma programs too, but are there Commercial Pilot courses offered at Universities at the Masters level?

Would love to hear from more students who have chosen to flight train at universities. And, also what about pilots who have just gained their CPL, are jobs back in the aviation industry?

Thanks!
Cheers from India.
Ash

JetFueler

Another important factor is college & flying are supposed to be fun. The large flying universities have a tendency to suck the fun out of both. Just my experience as a primarily FBO trained pilot & ERAU educated student.