getting out of the army within 3 months, I have GI BILL!!! i had nothing to do with aviation but i have grown a lot of interest in pursing a career to be an commercial airlines pilot.... ive thought about this a lot yet i still know almost nothing. i know its nothing to jump right into but I'm going all in...

first question
do i need a four year degree?
Ive been trying to figure out which flight school or college to go to and ive read that you don't and that you do need your degree...

second question
which is the best flight school or college to go to?
ive seen embry riddle as a four year university, and ive also seen flight schools only taking up to 9 months such as phoenix east aviation, atp flight school and so on...

what else do i really need besides a commercial pilots license or flight school? degrees certificates etc

If you want to be an airline pilot, and work for a stable company where you will be well-payed in the long run, you almost assuredly need the degree.

If you're OK with lower pay and QOL, and instability, then there are plenty of pilot jobs available in other sectors of aviation which don't require a degree. If you want to fly bush, ag, or fire-fighting an A&P would probably be more useful than a degree, those are quite different from airlines, but potentially rewarding in different ways (including good money).

It's *possible* with the pilot shortage some majors will hire without degrees, but it would be a sucker's bet to plan your career on that.

To put things in perspective, when you're interviewing at a top-tier major airline, your fellow candidates will be Colonels with masters degrees, thousands of hours of military flight time, and combat experience.

If you need the degree and have the GI Bill, the best option is almost certainly a four-year aviation university with a flight program and R-ATP eligibility. Try to find one that's cheap enough for GI Bill to cover so you avoid debt.

You'll probably need CFI-Airplane and CFI-Instrument certificates to allow you to build time working as an instructor. You'll need to get to 1000 hours if you graduate from an R-ATP eligible four-year program. You'll most likely be able to instruct at your university, even before you graduate.

First off, thank you for your service to our country! As far as your questions go, I would absolutely get a 4 year degree. You will get alot of mixed reviews on here whether to 1) get a 4 year degree at all and 2) if that degree needs to be aviation related. It is all about what YOU want and what works for you. Personally, I chose to get a 4 year degree in something other than aviation for that "just in case" scenario. Airlines used to have a requirement for having a 4 year degree. Now, I think it is more of a "preferred" thing. That being said, I think a 4 year degree is extremely valuable. If you are trying to get in and get out, ATP is a great option. I went part 61 and finished all my ratings in 10 months. (0 flight hours to Flight instructor). If you go to a 4 year school, it obviously will be 4 years before you are done. It sounds like ATP would be a great option for you. It can be done however you want and completely depends on your work ethic/schedule. Last, make sure you can acquire a 1st or 2nd class medical. Find an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in your area and request a 1st class medical. Good luck in your search and journey!

Many Majors now list the degree as "preferred". But all that means is that they have the flexibility to hire someone THEY really want to hire without a degree (affirmative action, children of senior managers, perhaps aviation rockstars).

The practical reality is that all "Average Joe Pilots" need a degree for top-tier majors, and it's a huge factor for the others.

Regionals don't require a degree, but since they are spiraling downhill and may not exist in ten years, that's a bad bet.

I personally know one guy in the last fifteen who got hired without a four-year degree. He had an AA, Dad was well connected, and it was SWA. SWA is the most likely to hire folks who have only an AA.

502, What is your age? What part of the USA would you like to live & go to school?

I’d at least start on track towards an Associate Degree, with as much flying as possible right away. One can’t sit back and let things happen, you have to MAKE things happen.

If mostly going to school and flying, one can just about go year round. There should be some area you could make hay with, academic or flying.

Besides the big name schools, there are a host of 2nd tier places you can enroll. One good place to look is AOPA’s ‘Flight Training’ magazine. A membership with AOPA is free for student pilots, check their website.

You really don’t need a EE degree to fly, as posted one mostly needs a 4 yr degree for the most desirable positions. As always, keep a backup plan viable and don’t tarnish employability with tickets or other negatives.