cam3r0ngt

I'm wanting to go ATP one day and become an airline pilot for my career.

I have looked into a lot of places for college. Liberty, North Dakota State, Embry Riddle, etc. The schools look great! Yay! Guess what though? No way in hell I can pay for that even if I did a loan over 20 years!

The thing that has come up is that the community college near me does a 2 year program. They get you up to your commercial and dual engine endorsements. Is that something that you think could be transferred into one of the larger universities? Is there really a leading reason on to go with a "major university"?

Why should I? Any comments and feedback are appreciated. I am open and just looking around since it is my Sr. Year in HS.

trc8301

I went the community college route, and looking back now I think there are upsides and downsides. The flight training is just as good. I went to Portland Community College, and the college program itself was great (the company that owned the airplanes is another story for another day). You can still get lowered ATP minimums at a lot of them, but double check and ask to make sure, because PCC did not (I did not do the research first, because I didn't know).

I would say the biggest reason to go the community college route is that while there is no harm in an aviation associates, go finish your four-year degree in a degree path other than aviation. You will be much more rounded, and there is no harm in a fall back discipline. No airline is going to look at you and question your ability because you chose a degree outside of aviation. I decided to do Embry-Riddle Worldwide to finish my four-year and as I am finishing up my last term, I really wish that I had done something different. The cost really has no positive return on investment.

Good luck to you!

Airbum

A community college is a great idea.

PotatoChip

I went to community college and UND. Cut the total costs by about 25%. Don't regret it.

TheWeatherman

There are a lot of programs out there that allow you to finish your 4-year Bachelor aviation degree online if you complete a 2-year aeronautics program. So you can get all your ratings and get your Aeronautics Associates degree in about two years, then work as a CFI and time build while you finish your Bachelor degree online. By the time you graduate, you should be qualified and have the hours you need to get your ATP.

I know a guy who is doing exactly that through this program right here: Aviation Management online degree program

WesternSkies

There are community colleges with aviation programs too

rev4life03

I went to Community College, paid for my PPL and IFR on the side. Transferred that to a state school that cost 6,000 a year, that is not a typo. Earned by bachelors degree while working hard and paying for my commercial SEL and MEL. I am about to go to school to complete my CFI, CFII and MEI out of pocket. All this with no debt, this took longer than some of my colleagues but I sit here not owing a single dollar in student loan debt. It was worth it for me.

Mind you, both of my A.S and B.S are not aviation related. I earned a degree in business so I can one day pursue my MBA if I wanted to.

cam3r0ngt

So, basically, you went for business but did flight training separate and worked to pay for it? (cause tbh that would be a very cheap route for me to do cause of state schools)