I went to a state university. Affordable in-state tuition, and flight costs were comparable to around the country. Graduated in 2017, 4 year degree, everything except CFI. Total bill was in the mid-$70K. Flight costs were in the $55k realm, tuition was $2300-2500 per semester.

Taking a a quick look at that MTSU site, it can be pricey if you’re out of state and load up. The ridiculous course load of 21 (I did 18-20 some semesters, but many had an online option for those of us attending in person so that made it pretty tolerable) for an out of state would be $15K per semester. That’s nuts. If you look at the in state side, it’s $5K. If you look at the more typical 12-15 range, it’s $4000-4500 per semester. Much more tolerable than the $12K per semester you mentioned. But still almost double what my tuition was. Our out of state tuition was also about 3x. more expensive, about $7k per semester. But one really big advantage is the university capped tuition costs at the 12 credit mark. Or in other words, it scaled up from 1 credit similar to this, but didn’t go up in price above 12 credits. So you could do 12 or 16 or 18, all for the same cost.

Anyway. This is what I tell everyone. Aviation degrees, in the right circumstances for the right people, can be a good avenue. But please please please do your homework. Talk to past students. Meet with advisors. Look at the fees. See if they have incentives like the WUE program to lower tuition costs. And I would almost guarantee your state has a college program, and many of those have decent in state rates. Don’t move and go to Purdue or WMU or UND just because that’s the big name and all you hear about. No one cares where you attended, so just to where it’s affordable and you can get good grades.

 

That changes if you actually have one. Instantly.

Most women already know this. Guys will find out when the time comes.

 

Kids are like penises. Most guys only like playing with their own.

 

Is this where you're looking?

https://www.mtsu.edu/tuition/cost-of-attendance.php

Because flights costs are the same as you described but current in-state tuition and housing is about $25k/yr. That makes a 4 year degree cost $100k + $50k for flight training.

So to attend MTSU it costs $150k to get an aviation degree coupled with flight training.

 

It looks like getting a BS at Polk State in Florida may be a lot less expensive than MTSU:


$14k for the BS degree and then probably about $50k for the flight training.

https://www.polk.edu/admission-aid/fees-tuition/

https://www.polk.edu/wp-content/uplo..._v4_010516.pdf

 

I was just looking at a price sheet (the one I linked) which I was directed to by the link from a few posts up. The MTSU aviation link was a document and took me to the fees. Your link says right at the top “this isn’t what you’ll pay MTSU, it’s just an estimate.” The actual tuition is in line with my link, about $4500 per semester. The real atrocity is that $9300 room and board estimate. Holy cow. I was paying about $400/month for my own room in a college apartment complex when I was single ($800/month when I wasn’t single, for our own 2 bed/2 bath apartment). So $9300 for two semesters is atrocious, close to $1200/ month. For comparison sake, right now I rent a 3 bed two story townhouse with two car garage for like $1500.

Anyway. It’s cheaper than somewhere like ER. But that first year estimate is more than my entire 4 years of tuition cost (excluding the flight costs). Even the out Of state option was cheaper than this, so now I better understand why many of my peers were from out of state. $7k x 8 semesters is $56K. Another $55K of flying, and they’re about equal. If you were in state, you save over $30-$35K.

 

I know a lot of people say that, but I’m good. I know it’s not a popular opinion.

 

Absolutely. It's about time someone says this straight up. Kids are NOT for everyone, just like college isn't either.

The high 5 and low 6 figure $$$ numbers that are being thrown around here are still less than the total cost of kids. I'm a late Gen Xer/early millennial, and I NEVER want kids and never have. The COVID-19 crisis has only proven what a good decision it was to remain childless.

Hell.....I worry enough about feeding myself in these troubling times. Why on Gods Green Earth do I want to have to worry about feeding someone else. Not to mention during my days off (pre-COVID at least) I put my travel benefits to use and visited Europe, Mexico, and many other places and had a blast. Never could have done that with kids, at least not nearly as hassle free.

And I haven't even mentioned the opportunity cost gain such as being able to move to base on a whim at your regional, move again to take the first available upgrade, move again to the junior base when moving onto a LCC or legacy, etc, rinse and repeat, as well not caring about good schools (2X for same home, 10 miles away).

Just to be clear, I'm not knocking others decisions to have kids. Instead, I'm just putting forth that simply having kids should not be the default thing, because if parenting is not totally in you blood and something you are passionate about, then that child will sense that and its terrible unfair to him/her.

I actually love kids. As long as I can return them to their parents at the end of the day.

 

Didn't say you should, just if you do you'll probably like it.

 

Weird analogy bro