PotatoChip

Thank you for further insight. My point wasn't necessarily major in Economics so much as something other than Commercial Aviation/Aeronautical Science.

That said, great points. Finance and Accounting are both great majors. Further, if you are math inclined, take all the extra classes and get the minor! Or double major.

Swedish Blender

I'll assume you know more about both flight programs than I do so I'll keep my comments to the college life.

Purdue is a Big Ten school with all the associated sports. Albeit some of their teams aren't exactly setting the sports world on fire, they were always great to see. It gets cold in the winter but probably not as bad as UND. You are a couple hours from Chicago, beaches on Lake Michigan (not great, but there), an hour from Indianapolis.

Social life is great Greek or not. Purdue is a campus of 31,000. Out of that, less than 300 are flight majors (200 when I was there but I think it went up a little). UND says it has 120 airplanes vs 16 at Purdue so I would think there are more people with big watches talking with their hands there.

It really boils down to where you feel comfortable spending 4 or more years of your life at.

chrisreedrules

Get an Engineering degree. My dad had a masters in Electrical Engineering and I never saw him have a hard time finding a job. I've never seen an engineer ever have a hard time finding a job period now that I think about it.

Pilotandrew

Or business degree! You will always have opportunities with that

RAdler

Thanks for the advice, everyone, I appreciate it coming from experienced people in the industry.

Captain Oval

Louisiana Tech.. 4ish hours from Dallas, Flight program or choose another degree and fly.. On the 1/4 system which will get you out of college quicker and it is cheaper then the other school mentioned.

Louisiana Tech University - Aviation - Welcome

JamesNoBrakes

Here's the thing, no doubt ALL of these universities are telling you that you have to get INTO THE MARKET or your degree and flying RIGHT NOW. There will NEVER EVER be a better time, the PILOT SHORTAGE is right around the corner, heck it's starting right now, you NEED to get into their aviation science program to reap the benefits of spending $150K+ to save a few thousand on experience before you can get your ATP and spend more money (or lose more money as you start working for less as you earned as a CFI when you take that first regional job).

These institutions want your money. It's not that they don't try to offer a good product or try really hard to give you a good education, but the rest of the world deems it worthless and you aren't going to start in a 747-400 out of school, so all those classes they spent teaching you about them were a waste. Most of the people I went to school with have been stuck at the regional jobs for the last 7-10 years. These jobs do not pay off or pay down the student loans.

It is far better to get a degree other than aviation science in something you like. I like plenty of things outside of aviation, even though I love aviation. I could do geology, vulcanology, medicine, engineering, all sorts of things that would be fun IMO, and then you got something besides that one-shot deal that is known as a pilot career.

If you *still* think it's a good idea to go to one of these places, ask them where their graduates are right out of school. Ask them where they are in two years. Ask them to provide you with names of recent grads that you can contact. Ask them how long it's taken for people to "flow" from that rape air to jet blue program (afaik, no one has made it yet, but I could be wrong, there might be a few finally, it's taken them years though, 5-7 I believe, not counting how long those people worked previously, there are a lot of people in those pipelines vying for those jobs). Make the school accountable, don't sit around and let them feed you crap about how you can finance it, how it might pay off, how great it's "gunna be", make them SHOW YOU how it IS. Then when they can't show how you are able to pay back your loans right out of school, tell them how that sounds.

A college degree is an investment. It shouldn't be a one-way path to indentured servitude, but that's exactly what these places are making it.

sidestep

You are smart for thinking ahead & asking questions like these!

I would just add that you are entering one of the best times of your life. It is important to take a 'big-picture' approach to your next step. Airline flying is great - it really is, but trust me - if you have fun in college, you will ALWAYS look back and wish you could just stay in that time forever. ENJOY IT!!! Go to college and bask in the 'college experience' - you'll be a more well-rounded person in the end, I promise.

If you are only considering UND & Purdue, Boiler-up for sure!!! But also check out Auburn, and my alma mater - Arizona State! Great flight programs, and you will have a blast! Not to mention 320 days/yr of clear blue & 22 flying weather in AZ!!

Also - Never mind any 'guaranteed job placement' propaganda - they are only as good as the economy, and with the upcoming shortage - you'll be able to go anywhere you want anyway!

Good luck!

DroopsN10

Be careful with Louisiana Tech, they're cheap but for a reason. I attended for 2 years and they changed the pro aviation program up on me while I was attending. Also flight training was outrageous there over 190$ per hour for dual if I remember correctly. I feel like I should have went with a embry riddle school if i wanted a quality degree in Aviation. Hopefully things there are better now. Good luck!

Big E 757

I agree, get a degree in your second favorite career field