Grandson wants to fly! He is a freshman at a college in Boston (business) now but wants to do what I have done for the last 55 years!
He has flown with me in the Challenger and the Global and watched my airline career for most of his life.
He is also a superb athlete and might be able to get some scholarship money (soccer and basketball).
I welcome any and all ideas!!

Yes to college with an Aviation program.
Now if it was me at 18-19 years old…..I wouldn’t major in anything remotely aviation related.
After college, military then civilian.

I agree. Black swan events happen. A degree in business means he can always land a non pilot job for a few years. Or if he would not be able to get a medical. Keep doing his major. Start flying, build hours.

To answer the original posters question, consider the following web site and organization. https://www.uaa.aero/

The University Aviation Association is organization for those colleges and universities that have aviation programs and or award aviation degrees.
Some of the better known institutions are: Embry Riddle University with campuses in FLorida and Arizona (expensive.) North Dakota State University, Western Michigan University, Battle Creek Michigan, Purdue University, Lafayette Indiana, Florida Institute of Technology, Minnesota State University, Etc, Etc.

Go to the website and download the membership organization list and you will find all the various colleges and universities with Aviation programs.

Those programs are typically not good value for the money. If money is no object, there are several good options, UND comes to mind.

If finances are an issue then best path would be to go to a decent school you can afford, major in something that would have career backup value, and do flight training on the side. Probably want a college located somewhere with multiple flight school options nearby. Would need to dedicate a lot of summer time to training, especially if he's a scholarship athlete. Athletics might weight the scales in favor of an aviation university, since it would simplify/integrate flight training.

Also there is another Pro to aviation college programs if you weren't aware: Restricted ATP (R-ATP). If you attend an approved school, major in flights ops, AND complete your flight training under their program you can get an R-ATP and a regional job at 1000 hours instead of 1500. That's normally not a huge deal, and not worth the money, since a busy CFI could make up that difference in about 6 months or even less. But with the retirement wave in full swing, every day counts for some long-term seniority.

If you go that route, do the research and make sure you understand the requirements to qualify for the R-ATP.

One of my favourite YouTubers!

Watch these video clips.

1. https://youtu.be/h_kIajrJUMc

2. https://youtu.be/H8ht8mKmmFw

3. https://youtu.be/H8ht8mKmmFw

After watching, do you agree?

In the context of a pilot career in the US, this is horrible advice for a young person. A degree is a formal or de facto requirement for ALL of the best airline AND corporate jobs, without it you'll have to work longer and harder to even have a shot and your odds will still be low... like literally 1-2%.


Now if you're talking about non-aviation, different story...

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/10437...ing-trade-jobs

Very few US pilots are interested in going overseas, they only do that when US airlines aren't hiring. Unless you want to leave the US and never return, you will need a 4-year degree to have a good career without undue delays and risk of stagnation.

That literally answered zero of what the OP asked.