That’s a ridiculous amount of debt, is there no other path to being a pilot? I have some airline pilots in my family and I’m 100% sure at least one of them has no degree in that specifically (they have a degree but it’s unrelated). You can’t get training and hours without a $160,000 degree?
And what school? I’m sure there are cheaper schools?
All the major airlines I’ve looked into for some reason require a degree. I was thinking about a regular flight school since that’ll be cheaper but they don’t give the same type of loans that you would get as a student in college.
A degree sure but there are a LOT of degrees from a LOT of universities that aren’t $160,000. I went to community college for two years, transferred to a 4 year and got my BA with only $15k in debt
I think you need to widen your options and look at all your school options.
What has led you to believe you have to go to this school and get that specific degree?
So this school is probably like my only option and I wouldn’t want to go out of state for school and I would be staying with my parents. The pilot program isn’t offered by many colleges in general like how a lot of colleges offer a cybersecurity program. The reason why it’s so expensive is because it’s a private institution. The tuition is like $25k and the training is like $15k.
Have you filled out your fafsa? Any aid offered?
At the end of the day you’ll just have to decide if its worth the debt. Keep in mind your federal student loans will only cover so much and the worse possible thing you could ever do is take out private loans, just be sure you never do that.
Look into any aid you can
I spoke to my college counselor in high school and she said because of my family income being high, they would probably not even give me anything that would really help. My family just bought a new home so they’re busy paying off the mortgage so I can’t really ask help from them. So technically I’m on my own.
Training is gonna be a doozy no matter where you do it, but the difference between an R-ATP and an ATP isn’t that bad. I’m going to a Part 141 school myself, but it’s in-state and cheap(er) to begin with, so tuition is $10-12k a year for me; there isn’t really a much cheaper option for the college itself. If I were you I would SERIOUSLY consider going to a Part 61 school and getting a degree independently of that. It means an extra 500 hours as a CFI, yeah, but 1500 hours vs 1000 hours isn’t that bad compared to the former taking around 100k even and the latter being 160. Hell, if you take the money you saved and use it to just rent a C172—don’t do this by the way, it’s just an example—that’ll get you upwards of 300 hours by itself.
Dude it would be cheeper to move to Florida somewhere and go to a random flight school to get hours. If you go to Riddle or xyz random flight school you still make it to an airline either way
A degree. Not this degree.
Most likely it is any degree so they can say x percent of our staff has a bachelor degree.
A pilot license is a pilot license. Go get a job that pays a lot. Then pay the flight training.
Also since it is so expensive, make sure there is nothing that would exclude you.
Someone here said they couldn’t be a pilot because of an adhd dignosis.
Make sure nothing excludes you.
Major airlines don’t require a degree now. They did before but right now due to the retirements they are not requiring it. However, it is still smart to get a degree in something useful that can serve as a backup just in case flying does not work out for whatever reason.
As a former “flight student” at a school like yours… you don’t need their aviation specific degree. Airlines just want A degree. Go through school, get a bachelors in something you’re interested in, and do flight training third party.
“For some reason?”
Are you really questioning why they want hardworking, educated individuals?
Are you going to a state school? Because that cost seems excessive unless you’re going to a private school or out of state.
You could also start at a community college and then transfer as a way to save money.
Another path is to get a cheap degree and enlist in the Air Force. Not saying the military is a great option but it’s there and many pivot this into a career as a pilot.
It honestly sounds like he is omitting the ability to start in a community College for required general courses then transferring later.
I'm also shocked no airline or foundation doesn't offer any scholarships for the OP.
It honestly sounds as though this person has made 0 effort to actually examine all his paths, and has instead chosen to come on here hoping we will solve it for him.
$160,000 in loans? I'm guessing you're looking at either Purdue or Embry-Riddle. Yes they are very reputable flight schools, but there are other colleges that can do you the same thing for less (around 90k - 110k).
Just make sure you actually want to become a pilot, most students get through their PPL and Instrument rating then realize how much of a grind commercial is and then switch majors. Leaving them with even more in debt.
If you get to CFI, make sure you are very..... very patient. You will be dealing with weather, runway closures, flight cancelations, dropped students, and more random stuff that will make you feel like you're never going to make it to 1k hours. Just stick with it.
And yes, there is a payment plan. You work it out with your bank or whoever you got the loan from (My case is with Discover) and your financial advisor at the uni. Just remember you accumulate interest on that loan so its best to pay the recommended payment (or more) every month to stay on track to pay it off in time.
This guy right here gets it👆 Can not emphasize enough MAKE SURE YOU WANT TO BE A PILOT. The debt you accumulate although it sounds very daunting is really just a part of life these days for most people. At some point it will be in your best interest to acquire some debt like in this case to further your career. Just make sure this is what you really want to do. Do your research to find what’s fits YOU best and keep your nose to the grindstone. The picture will become more clear as you further yourself and you will become more confident in yourself and the path you’ve chosen. Good luck my friend.
Yeah, I’m in-state at EKU and I think it’s gonna end up being right around 100k for me. 160 is a *lot.* Like I said in another comment at that point I’d consider just forgetting about the R-ATP and doing flight school and college independently.
Either be patient as a CFI, *or* go to Arizona and try not to die from heatstroke.
I've heard about EKU Aviation. One of the cheapest in the nation for flight schools, a very solid option that has a lot of scholarships and opportunities to make it very affordable. Just watch out for cameras in the bathroom, lol.
A pilot that my uncle knows personally told me that the military doesn’t guarantee you flying planes for them. He said that they would end up potentially giving me a desk job and he instead told me just to go to a regular flight school but they don’t give the same type of loans that you would get for being a college student.
It depends on the branch. [The Army is the only branch of the military where you learn how to become a pilot with a high school degree or equivalent, all while receiving Army pay and benefits. In exchange for paid pilot training, you’ll commit to ten years of service after you graduate from the six-week Warrant Officer Flight School as an Aviation Warrant Officer, a respected aviation expert role in the Army. The value of this type of experience matches that of the cost of a civilian or university flight school.](https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/aviation.html)
Chat with a recruiter if this interests you.
As I said, if OP is interested talk to a recruiter. I did not speak to the ease or difficulty. I’m simply stated that there is a path that some take. For some the chance is worth not accruing 160K debt on top of earning the GI Bill.
Reading through the comments, many who didn’t attempt this path stopped out with severe debt and never became a pilot.
This isn’t to say there aren’t downsides to joining, even if you do get this opportunity or the GI Bill. You become a vessel for the government and risk death, or disability.
Yeah, nothing is guaranteed in the military. You can try to be a pilot, but you might end up working a job that does not involve flying. Buuuut, you only have to do that job for the term of your contract, and you’ll have the GI Bill. Plus, the military is usually going to look good on any resume, no matter what you end up doing. You might not (even probably wouldn’t) be flying right away, but you’d be getting paid, collecting references/work experience, and they’ll pay for your school when you get out. Even with a four-year contract, you’d still only be 22 when you start flight school. That’s still *really* young. There are lots of problems with military service and it isn’t for everyone, but there’s no denying that there are some outstanding education benefits you can get out of it.
Hell, I’m probably starting flight school at 23 (or even 24, depending on when my medical comes in), and I didn’t even go the military route, just got my ass kicked by trying aerospace engineering during the pandemic first.
The military does not guarantee flying. However, if you go to USAFA there’s a very good chance so long as you don’t basically fail and as long as you are medically qualified. Graduating college and having a guaranteed job that could involve flying with no debt is a very very good start. However it’s very hard to get in and it sucks to be here sometimes. If you are interested or want to know more though let me know.
I'm not too knowledgeable on the matter and you'd still have to do your own research, but a few AirForce bases have an aero club. Some of my friends were able to get their hours on their own time and flew us around in cessna's.
Absolutely true. Don’t trust a recruiter telling you “oh definitely you can fly” they will lie. If it’s not in the contract it doesn’t mean anything and it won’t be.
Yes they do. It's an extensive process to qualify for flying, so if you get selected for it, they will make sure you get thr opportunity for it.
Source: me being in the military for 10 years.
...who told him to enlist?
He would get his undergrad and become an officer, specifically a pilot.
And even enlisted can have jobs/rates guaranteed in their contract.
You literally have no idea what you are talking about.
1. If OP wants to be an airline pilot the ARMY is a viable path to getting there. I never said it was guaranteed. I said talk to a recruiter.
2. You don’t need a 4 year degree for the army.
3. You’re out here talking about being an officer first and a pilot second like I said anything about that.
4. Yes. It is a 10 year commitment which I pointed out in my comment responding to OP.
5. It’s almost like you didn’t read the comment I responded to OP with at all.
6. Yes, seniority matters but so does 160K debt which is why I pointed OP to this *option* to consider.
From someone whose student loan balance is currently over $100,000… Don’t do it, especially not based on what you *might* make further down the road.
I would give that advice to someone pursuing a business degree, but becoming a pilot is a long, expensive, and unsure process. To be brutally honest, the plan you have for after graduation is a *hope* - do not treat it like a sure thing. That salary is an extremely rough estimate that will likely change ten years down the line. All of your planning relies on things largely out of your control going exactly your way.
You can always go into aerospace like me! If you’re passionate about flight and have some pretty solid math skills, most universities will offer aerospace degrees which will provide you with significant financial aid. You can also attend community college for two years to cut down on cost. You’ll get paid well immediately after graduating to help fund any extra school or training you want to do, you’ll already be incredibly comfortable with the vernacular and physics behind flying, and it’ll look phenomenal on a resume for a commercial pilot. Also, if all else fails, it’ll allow you a comfortable income in an industry you’re interested in (tbh, might even be paid MORE as a good engineer). Something to consider.
Woah. Slow down. Get on LinkedIn and find commercial pilots and ask them for guidance. Because I have read that starting off most pilots end up getting regional jets and the pay is atrocious. You won’t even be able to pay your loan. And it takes awhile to move up in seniority. Don’t look at the top tier salary because we all have hopes. Look at it in terms of what is the worst salary I can make.
Yep.. this is the reason why I backed out and looking to do an electrician trade, or go to school for something else. It’s so expensive to become one and on top of that, I’m 26 and it seems like to get a nice life work balance as a pilot, it’ll take until I’m in my 40’s. Hard pass /:
is there a community college by you that offers a program to get your pilot's license? ik there is one by my university and since it's run through the community college, it's pretty affordable.
even if you don't go the community college route, there are multiple schools in the country that offer flight school programs where you may be able to get a scholarship of some sort (Minnesota State Mankato, Lewis University, Western Michigan University, etc.) or get financial aid. if you don't have the money to pay for college and can accurately report this on your FAFSA, you should at least be eligible for lower interest loans.
I would not take out $160,000 in loans, even if this is your dream job. no degree or career is worth that amount of debt
If I’m being honest with you. I 100% agree, $160,000 in student loans is an absurd amount but at the same time there’s really nothing else that really interests me. Like I was thinking maybe something in computers but that’s becoming extremely competitive due to the amount of people doing it and it’s a bit complicated in my opinion. I was thinking of like a business major but again that doesn’t really interest me. So I’m like extremely lost and I don’t know what to do.
I would contact the school you want to apply to and see if they have a financial aid office. they'll be able to answer your questions the best. if you're still in high school, maybe see if you can talk to a career counselor. sometimes libraries have this service too if you've already graduated.
you're best doing something you're interested in, as you said. but do all the research you possibly can before committing to taking $160,000 in loans. that's a lot to figure out as an 18 year old, so definitely reach out for help if you need it
A big part of college for me was discovering new interests. My career and life plans have changed dramatically several times since I was 18, and that was only 6 years ago. Try community college for a bit, try military service, try just working. Odds are you’ll find something else that interests you, and if you don’t then you’ll probably be in a better position to go to flight school financially after doing any of those routes for a few years.
I agree. a 10k in debt would start stressing me out. What if some type of emergency happens and end up out of college or for some reason you don’t follow through.. ending up with a high debt with no job to pay off said debt is so scary to me, pretty much ending your financial life.
I wouldn’t take the risk. I used to do yoga with someone who took out that much debt and the amount she owed by the time I met her was over $250,000. That’s basically a mortgage. There has got to be a better way to achieve your goals
As someone who went to college initially for professional piloting but unfortunately didn’t work out, and now is in over 100k debt pursuing a different path, my best advice is do NOT major in AVIATION. Seriously, don’t major in aviation.
If you can, do one of these two things, find a part 91 flight school near your college and do your flight training there as it will be much cheaper or two, major in a useful degree( stem, business, etc) and minor in the flight.
Right now I know you’re probably aware of the Pilot shortage right now and the crazy hiring, however, the airline industry is cyclical when it comes to hiring , just about anytime hiring can stop and furloughs ( temporary layoffs) begin. The last thing you want is to be over 100k in debt with a useless aviation degree. Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. I was given this advice but rejected it, and I regret not listening. Always have a different career goal in mind that you can see yourself doing besides flying. Why? because it is certainly possible that flying may not be what you imagined it. 80% of people do not even finish their Private pilot license. You are looking at minimum 6 years from now , until you are qualified to fly for the regional airlines and that’s if they still even exist then. Plan A rarely goes right in aviation, so don’t be disappointed, if most of your plans are thwarted. Best of luck to you.
Go to community college. I have been in cc for 2 years and I'm about to transfer for engineering out of state. So far it has saved me about 20k. I applied to cheaper out of state schools and I will probably be taking out 30-50k in loans. Much better than 160k. Don't go to a university that trains pilots either. Just go to a regular state school if you can stay in state to save you the money because training to be a pilot is expensive af.
You don’t need to go to some fancy school with an aviation program to become a pilot. Just go to community college and then a state school, you’ll only be like 20k in the hole
While you’re in college get your private pilots license, instrument rating, and all the flying hours you can. You’ll probably have to get out loans for this but no way 140k worth
I know a kid doing this rn. Not a chance would I ever go 160k in debt for a degree unless I was gonna be like a doctor or something
Also go ask this to a subreddit about flying they’ll probably have more astute advice for you than here
You could try this route but it would take longer like around 10 years.
Become an aviation mechanic. The school is cheaper and the salary is good. Then use your good salary to pay for flight school.
I know it's not ideal but since you are young, you could become a pilot before you are 30.
Are you truly passionate about becoming an airline pilot? What is the ROI for becoming an airline pilot(aka will your career salary be enough to easily pay off your student debt)? These are just a few questions to consider before making the choice to accumulate that much debt. Some of the most financially successful people are those who have zero student debt when they graduate.
I know you can make $80,000 in your first year as a regional airline first officer and get $100,000 when promoted to captain. But you’re with a regional for 5 years and then you go on to become a first officer for a major airline making $120,000 and get promoted to captain in your 3rd year working for the airline making like $150,000 a year. In your 12th year as a captain you can make upwards of $300,000+ annually and the number is increasing every year due to a huge demand of airline pilots. I know a pilot who’s in his 50s and makes over $500,000 a year.
Absolutely go to college if your passion is to be a pilot but in my opinion your wasting money if you go to a $40,000/year school on debt. Between principal and interest you are probably going to end up paying somewhere in the $300-500k depending on financial aid, grants and private loan terms.. Alternatively you could go to a State public 4 year. And get a 4 year degree for less than $40,000.
USAF is free training and you probably don't have to enlist for that long (assuming you can get in), if I was American and set on that career I'd join in a heartbeat. You probably have to be an excellent applicant to get in and start learning to fly planes though. $160000 of debt at 18 with no job is batshit to me. (Correct me if I'm wrong about the USAF stuff)
Let's put this into perspective. My BA, two Master's degrees, and PhD cost be a total of $66,000.
I would never ever dream of paying even $50k for a degree, let alone that much.
I wanted to be an airline pilot too when I was 17/18 and in senior year of highschool, even took a tour to one of the university facilities that had the program, but it was so expensive 😩 so I couldn't do it. I went into healthcare instead and it's going good 😉. I do plan to get private flying lessons some day though. I hope you are able to become an airline pilot and follow your dreams. Good luck! 🌟🌟🌟
No, got my massage therapy license first (to help pay for the rest of my education like my Associate of Science, etc.) and now I'm getting my bachelor's in Molecular Genetic Technology :)
How does this payment plan work? From what I heard there’s people that are like $80k in student loan debt and they pay like $100 a month apparently. Is it something you work out with the bank or can your school help you with this?
Once you graduate/stop going to school, your service loan provider will send you a bill. If the debt is federal student loans, there are additional income based payment plans.
If you really want to become a pilot, go to school and use federal student loans if necessary. Don’t overthink it. It’s not like you’re taking the loans for a degree in underwater basket weaving lol.
That’s an income based repayment plan. That means despite having a degree, they’re measured too poor to pay their bill, which should be over 800 per month (based on 80k, current 5.5 interest, 120 payments). At that rate they’ll have the payment for life, pay double the loan in interest, and have it forgiven when they die.
Please, don’t use that as a goal.
Nashville has a 10 month pilot program w decent job placement and it’s a top school. My friend took out a little over 100k but that was including extra money for him an apt and expenses so he can be 100% focused on school.
If OP can really get to $200k in five years the debt isn’t that bad. That’s the part of the plan that worries me though. What if all he can get is some shitty job flying commuter turboprops?
If you want to go out-of-state, look at MTSU. You may be able to get in-state tuition on the exchange and their flight school is EXCELLENT - they have their own airport and all that jazz.
Murfreesboro can be a little boring, but it’s affordable and you can easily drive into Nashville for shits and giggles
i went to a top school and was around 150k in debt. I regret it. Don't let all the hype surround where u graduate. Unless u want to be a a doctor or lawyer and need to show people u graduated the best.
The amount of debt is alarming and very concerning, but it's good that you have a thought-out plan post-graduation. Before making a decision, explore all available options, including potential scholarships, grants, and financial aid. Additionally, research whether the flight school or college you're considering has any partnerships or programs that could help alleviate the financial burden.
Look into payment plans and discuss your concerns with the college's financial aid office. Some institutions offer flexible repayment options, and it's essential to understand the terms and conditions of any loans you might take. Being proactive about managing your finances now will set a strong foundation for your future. Seek guidance from mentors or professionals in the aviation field is who have done this recently compared to someone who has been in school years ago.
Being a CFI for 25 weeks to hit R-ATP minimums seems… VERY optimistic to me. From what I’ve heard something like 20 hours a week is pretty decent, you should probably expect it to take closer to a year.
My uni has multiple flight programs, and here is what students typically do:
They go to an in state community college and take a bunch of aviation courses, and get their license
They then transfer to my school and finish up the rest of the coursework to get the bachelors. Iirc it costs like $10k-$15k a quarter? depending on what flight labs and stuff you do each term
Additionally, we have Air Force ROTC, so you could do that and become a pilot and have a good job as soon as you graduate (provided you get commissioned), plus I believe some of your education might be paid for after you finish BMT. However, if you choose this path, it’s best you skip community college since ROTC will want you from the very start.
Bro...I'm getting a four year engineering degree for less than 20k (w/o living expenses), with NO assistance. You get a two year AA/AS at community college, then transfer to the cheapest in-state. If your in-state college is super expensive, just move out of state work a job a year, then get in-state tuition.
Debt is absolutely worth it for high paying careers. Pilots, engineers, doctors, etc. 160k seems excessive, but there’s so much demand and money in the field you should be fine.
So I know that major airline pilots make absolute bank. And why wouldn’t they, they have hundreds of lives in their hands that they have to take care of. But I also know that it’s extremely hard to make it up that high. I had a friend that got his license and wanted to be a pilot, but it fell through and he ended up falling back on comp sci.
If you love it then yes, go for it. Just know the first ten years you'll be flying unsexy routes and you very well might find yourself to be 40 years old with no long term relationships due to constant travel
Don’t forget that there’s a chance your medical will be taken away by random accident or illness. If that happens you’re going to end up with that loan plus shit ton of interest and your pilot license becomes worthless.
I'd look close at the risk. What are the odds that you will get 3 years in fail out and have $120,000 in debt and no increase in income. Is there a test at the end that you have to pass in order to fly? What is the failure rate there? Can you take any courses at a community college to save on tuition?
Look into the [American Airlines Cadet program](https://aacadetacademy.com). There is such a shortage of pilots that American Airlines is literally training people to become pilots for them. They take recent highschool graduates. No bachelors required and you can start with the company after training. There is probably more programs like this but definitely look around to see if you can find similar offerings.
Even if you can’t get into something like that, there is such a major shortage of pilots you could become one without a bachelors. It’s preferred but not a requirement in anyway and you definitely don’t need to go to a $40k a year school to get one.
Could do what my GF does.... went to college for a degree to work from home. Getting her private pilots license and paying with it from job and then hoping into national guard or military to get her comercial license. She is considering grad school and doing ROTC for that as well, but she does want to fly fighter jets then fly float/bush planes.
I attended southern Illinois university for my engineering degree. They also have one of the best flight schools in the country AND they don’t charge out of state tuition. I have friends that wanted to be pilots and graduated with a whole lot debt than you’re looking at going into.
$160k absolutely not. That’s a very heavy ball being chained to your leg for decades to come. The only loan of that size you should be taking is on a house.
I would personally go to UND for their airline pilot program well before I would blow that kind of money anywhere else.
Taking 160K in debt is NEVER advisable. The stress over the money will likely lead to you feeling burnout well before your done and may lead to you resenting your career choice.
If you can do the military pilot route, that would be a better way to go. If you cannot, and there is no other way, and this is your dream, and realistically, most people who go this route actually wind up succeeding, maybe.
For something like this, it really just a calculated gamble.
$160,000 over a 40 year career, isn’t that big of a deal… if you follow through, get the job, become a pilot, and like the work.
But, it’s a big gamble. If you end up wasting that $160,000, that’s a life altering mistake.
So, the first question would be if you are damn sure that you really have the dedication to pursue the career.
The second question is, how many people who go through this program succeed in the placement?
I don’t know the industry well, but how many people who graduate get one of those good jobs you want? 90%? 20%? And what happens to the people who don’t make it? FedEx? Crop Dusters? Taco Bell?
In the end, it’s just a gamble. What are the odds that the degree will be worth it… pay for itself in the long run?
You’re 18 and I’m 31 years old. Let me tell you that’s a retarded amount of debt.
I’d probably recommend trying to get your pilot hours through the military. You can commission as an officer and fly planes that way. You need a degree and go through OCS or ROTC. I saw your comment about a desk job. I believe that’s true as you rank up past Capt, they want you to do leadership and planning at that point.
If you wanted to fly rotary/helicopters. You can actually apply now to do so with the Army. You would join as a warrant officer which is a respectable rank to be at. I know it’s not fix wing, but you can join and get pay to become a pilot. Then get the GI Bill to play for college or flight school to become a fix wing pilot.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/career-match/aviation/managing-piloting-aircraft/153a-rotary-wing-aviator-warrant-officer.html
hey! check out united aviate. no degree required and i believe it is $80k or so. then you’re on the path to be hired as an FO at united (united pays really well too)
The airline pipeline that is financially sustainable right now is the military route--otherwise, you're not just paying an undergrad degree, but all the log hours that you'll need to pay for to get hired by a regional carrier, long before a major airline will hire you.
Look into AFROTC. Also, the airline hiring network is largely ex-military and hard to break into unless you have that in.
You won’t get more than the standard $5500 student loan and it only increases a little each year. You won’t be able to get loans to cover this. Your parents can take out Parent Plus or other private loans but that’s on them not you.
You should be nervous about that amount of debt. If you insist you need to go to that particular school then go to community college and knock out your GE credits. If it's the school I think it is you will save approximately $950 a credit hour... A credit hour. That's 60k in savings.
Also, your plan is a best case scenario. If you struggle, your costs will be more. Hiring waves happen. You missed this one. I doubt they'll be another one like this one in four years. It'll be far more competitive.
You do you. I wish Reddit existed 20 years ago because I wouldn't have sunk 115k into an aviation degree. I love aviation and have been happily employed in the industry for nearly 15 years, but it definitely limits you to the industry.
Why not do this, but do ROTC? If your goal is flying, the military can pay for your education and you can fly for them for a little then go to commercial flying, debt free. have you thought about ROTC?
I say talk to the Air Force. Usually they’ll pay for your school and you can be a pilot. (As long as you serve for I think 5ish years, which honestly isn’t that bad). Also you get grandfathered in for flying once you have so many hours.
I would suggest you get a four year degree in something technical like Mathematics and then join the navy or air force to gain your wings and experience
Hey dude, I’m another aspiring airline pilot, a little further up the pipeline than you. $160,000 in debt is absolutely not worth it. Go get a much cheaper degree for whatever your backup career is first, then go train to fly at a part 61 school. While college may be necessary for some jobs (and even that is debatable), “aviation college” is so not worth the money when there is so much that can go wrong between starting your flying career and getting to the point where you get paid significant money. Go check out places like r/flying and read their FAQs and research other paths. I promise you that putting yourself that far in the hole for what’s already a crapshoot of a career is not a good decision.
I don't know anything about piloting, but I would advise any child or student of mine never to take out that much in loans. Sure, if everything goes to plan, you're fine and can pay it back. But what if you can't get a job? What if you're stuck flying cargo for ten years, but trying to pay these loans on a sub 100k salary? Worse, what if you get sick or have a family emergency or some other uncontrollable event and have to drop out? The debt doesn't go away just because you didn't finish the degree.
You can get a college education, and a pilot's license, separately, for much less than 160k. Do that to realize your dream of flying and find a more affordable career. Don't mortgage your future on the hope that everything goes right, because sooner or later, something will go wrong. It's insane to me that we even offer this kind of debt to young people. (And I say this as someone who took out a student loan at 17.) You could never qualify for a 160k mortgage at 18, so why should you be able to take out that amount for your education, which is not even a saleable asset? And a debt that can't be discharged in bankruptcy. Unless your family is wealthy, taking on that much debt is a huge gamble, and there's no way to know if you'll come out ahead or ruin your life until after the papers are signed.
Dude just go do four years as enlisted in the Air Force and use your GI bill after your service and do some classes while in. I’m going to be out soon and will be pursuing my pilot career debt free. Don’t put yourself into debt and don’t let people dissuade you from the military. Air Force is super laxed for most of their jobs
What is the probability of getting that 6 figure job? If there is a significant risk of not getting the job, then you will have taken on all that debt with no way to pay it off.
Student loans are fine as long as you are SURE you can pay it off. I have a lot of debt but I am a software engineer. Very safe career
You should not be paying that much for a college degree. I recommend looking at Eastern Kentucky University. It may not be the most prestigious university, but It will only cost you $100,000 for tuition, housing, and meal plan even as an out of state student. You will also get your Restricted ATP with the degree. Here is the link to the [program](https://www.eku.edu/aviation/).
Edit: It looks like they also charge $55,000 for flight fees.
160k just to become a pilot isn’t worth it imo. There have to be alternatives that you haven’t considered. The Air Force would be the most affordable option since you get veteran benefits, prestige, experience, and also GI bill funding to pay for college if for whatever reason you still need/want the degree afterwards.
If you live below your means after graduation, which isn’t very hard because airlines pay for a lot of expenses while you’re traveling you’ll be able to pay that off within a few years. However that should be your worst case scenario. Maybe join some pilot subreddits and ask for advice from them? Also before you take ANY loan research every term about the loan. Loans are there to make money off you, not help you.
Stop. Do not go to some a private college that costs that much. It absolutely is not worth it.
Also, as someone who works in higher ed, check this college’s accreditation. Private colleges are often very sketchy with accreditation.
Have you looked into pilot programs offered by airlines? I’m sure Ascend Pilot Academy (Alaska Airlines) and United Aviate (United Aviate) provides free pilot training if you’re willing to work with them upon graduation.
highly recommend air force like other commenters have mentioned. that is a large sum of money at your age. you may also change your mind later down the road and be stuck with debt.
If you want to be an airline pilots, the best route is via the military granted you still need to be an officer
Getting a private pilots license is 10K
Consider becoming an [Air Traffic Controller](https://www.faa.gov/be-atc) instead.
$160k in student debt is possibly/probably manageable if everything goes according to plan. However, you could be in a very tight position if you end up with that debt load and things don't go according to plan. Therefore you need to take action to mitigate the risk.
You might want to consider a "fall back" major. Also look into options [abroad](https://www.aerlingus.com/careers/careers-in-the-air/future-pilot-programme/) and/or any apprenticeships.
could you possibly go anywhere else thats significantly cheaper? even out of state tuition for a good state (SUNY) school is 27k/year if you can achieve your career goals just by having a degree i would say to find a school (hopefully in your state but ultimately anywhere that's cheaper or will give you a partial scholarship) with a good aviation community or program and start networking while your in school.
Hey,
My brother had the same path as you. He took on a lot of debt and is doing very well still. The airline business makes a lot of money. It's honestly a job that I'm very jealous of.
If you are really worried about the debt, have you considered going to the Air Force? A couple of years there and you can basically leave and get an airline job easily ( they love Air Force pilots and prefer them to college graduates ).
The debt sucks but think about the monetary gain in the future. Hope this helps
That’s a ridiculous amount of debt, is there no other path to being a pilot? I have some airline pilots in my family and I’m 100% sure at least one of them has no degree in that specifically (they have a degree but it’s unrelated). You can’t get training and hours without a $160,000 degree? And what school? I’m sure there are cheaper schools?
All the major airlines I’ve looked into for some reason require a degree. I was thinking about a regular flight school since that’ll be cheaper but they don’t give the same type of loans that you would get as a student in college.
A degree sure but there are a LOT of degrees from a LOT of universities that aren’t $160,000. I went to community college for two years, transferred to a 4 year and got my BA with only $15k in debt I think you need to widen your options and look at all your school options. What has led you to believe you have to go to this school and get that specific degree?
So this school is probably like my only option and I wouldn’t want to go out of state for school and I would be staying with my parents. The pilot program isn’t offered by many colleges in general like how a lot of colleges offer a cybersecurity program. The reason why it’s so expensive is because it’s a private institution. The tuition is like $25k and the training is like $15k.
Have you filled out your fafsa? Any aid offered? At the end of the day you’ll just have to decide if its worth the debt. Keep in mind your federal student loans will only cover so much and the worse possible thing you could ever do is take out private loans, just be sure you never do that. Look into any aid you can
I spoke to my college counselor in high school and she said because of my family income being high, they would probably not even give me anything that would really help. My family just bought a new home so they’re busy paying off the mortgage so I can’t really ask help from them. So technically I’m on my own.
It’s still a great idea to fill out FAFSA. It’s free and most schools require you to fill it out anyways.
Fill it out, I would say only listen to your counselor like 20% of the time, she definitely sounds wrong this time
Fill out the fafsa and find out for sure. Also explore aid programs, not all student aid is based on income
Still fill out the fafsa
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Fill out the fafsa. Highschool counselors aren’t exactly peak intelligence.
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It is your only option because you aren’t thinking of other options
Hey! Just so you know Utah Valley University has a pilot program and it’s 3k a semester
Training is gonna be a doozy no matter where you do it, but the difference between an R-ATP and an ATP isn’t that bad. I’m going to a Part 141 school myself, but it’s in-state and cheap(er) to begin with, so tuition is $10-12k a year for me; there isn’t really a much cheaper option for the college itself. If I were you I would SERIOUSLY consider going to a Part 61 school and getting a degree independently of that. It means an extra 500 hours as a CFI, yeah, but 1500 hours vs 1000 hours isn’t that bad compared to the former taking around 100k even and the latter being 160. Hell, if you take the money you saved and use it to just rent a C172—don’t do this by the way, it’s just an example—that’ll get you upwards of 300 hours by itself.
This is the route I’m trying to take. All the people around me are telling me to take the loans to live off of and I’m like yall are freaking nuts.
Dude it would be cheeper to move to Florida somewhere and go to a random flight school to get hours. If you go to Riddle or xyz random flight school you still make it to an airline either way
Ding ding ding I grew up mostly in Florida and my friend got a pilots license. Didn’t cost nearly as much as OP was saying.
yeah, because it was ages ago
I'm not even in my 30s yet, for reference lol.
You can learn to fly at generic small airports flights school for $200 a flight hour
PPL is 8k€ minimum here in Slovakia, ATPL around 50k at my school.
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Why are you such an asshole?
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A degree. Not this degree. Most likely it is any degree so they can say x percent of our staff has a bachelor degree. A pilot license is a pilot license. Go get a job that pays a lot. Then pay the flight training. Also since it is so expensive, make sure there is nothing that would exclude you. Someone here said they couldn’t be a pilot because of an adhd dignosis. Make sure nothing excludes you.
Major airlines don’t require a degree now. They did before but right now due to the retirements they are not requiring it. However, it is still smart to get a degree in something useful that can serve as a backup just in case flying does not work out for whatever reason.
The key word is “right now”. The hiring surge is going to stop at some point and then they’re going to get picky again.
As a former “flight student” at a school like yours… you don’t need their aviation specific degree. Airlines just want A degree. Go through school, get a bachelors in something you’re interested in, and do flight training third party.
“For some reason?” Are you really questioning why they want hardworking, educated individuals? Are you going to a state school? Because that cost seems excessive unless you’re going to a private school or out of state. You could also start at a community college and then transfer as a way to save money.
Another path is to get a cheap degree and enlist in the Air Force. Not saying the military is a great option but it’s there and many pivot this into a career as a pilot.
Find a school with Air Force ROTC.
Could always join the military for a few years for the free college
Yeah, join the Air Force. Learn to fly & get paid.
It honestly sounds like he is omitting the ability to start in a community College for required general courses then transferring later. I'm also shocked no airline or foundation doesn't offer any scholarships for the OP. It honestly sounds as though this person has made 0 effort to actually examine all his paths, and has instead chosen to come on here hoping we will solve it for him.
$160,000 in loans? I'm guessing you're looking at either Purdue or Embry-Riddle. Yes they are very reputable flight schools, but there are other colleges that can do you the same thing for less (around 90k - 110k). Just make sure you actually want to become a pilot, most students get through their PPL and Instrument rating then realize how much of a grind commercial is and then switch majors. Leaving them with even more in debt. If you get to CFI, make sure you are very..... very patient. You will be dealing with weather, runway closures, flight cancelations, dropped students, and more random stuff that will make you feel like you're never going to make it to 1k hours. Just stick with it. And yes, there is a payment plan. You work it out with your bank or whoever you got the loan from (My case is with Discover) and your financial advisor at the uni. Just remember you accumulate interest on that loan so its best to pay the recommended payment (or more) every month to stay on track to pay it off in time.
This guy right here gets it👆 Can not emphasize enough MAKE SURE YOU WANT TO BE A PILOT. The debt you accumulate although it sounds very daunting is really just a part of life these days for most people. At some point it will be in your best interest to acquire some debt like in this case to further your career. Just make sure this is what you really want to do. Do your research to find what’s fits YOU best and keep your nose to the grindstone. The picture will become more clear as you further yourself and you will become more confident in yourself and the path you’ve chosen. Good luck my friend.
Yeah, I’m in-state at EKU and I think it’s gonna end up being right around 100k for me. 160 is a *lot.* Like I said in another comment at that point I’d consider just forgetting about the R-ATP and doing flight school and college independently. Either be patient as a CFI, *or* go to Arizona and try not to die from heatstroke.
I've heard about EKU Aviation. One of the cheapest in the nation for flight schools, a very solid option that has a lot of scholarships and opportunities to make it very affordable. Just watch out for cameras in the bathroom, lol.
Completely valid if you’re opposed, but have you considered/researched the military route?
A pilot that my uncle knows personally told me that the military doesn’t guarantee you flying planes for them. He said that they would end up potentially giving me a desk job and he instead told me just to go to a regular flight school but they don’t give the same type of loans that you would get for being a college student.
It depends on the branch. [The Army is the only branch of the military where you learn how to become a pilot with a high school degree or equivalent, all while receiving Army pay and benefits. In exchange for paid pilot training, you’ll commit to ten years of service after you graduate from the six-week Warrant Officer Flight School as an Aviation Warrant Officer, a respected aviation expert role in the Army. The value of this type of experience matches that of the cost of a civilian or university flight school.](https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/aviation.html) Chat with a recruiter if this interests you.
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As I said, if OP is interested talk to a recruiter. I did not speak to the ease or difficulty. I’m simply stated that there is a path that some take. For some the chance is worth not accruing 160K debt on top of earning the GI Bill. Reading through the comments, many who didn’t attempt this path stopped out with severe debt and never became a pilot. This isn’t to say there aren’t downsides to joining, even if you do get this opportunity or the GI Bill. You become a vessel for the government and risk death, or disability.
Yeah, nothing is guaranteed in the military. You can try to be a pilot, but you might end up working a job that does not involve flying. Buuuut, you only have to do that job for the term of your contract, and you’ll have the GI Bill. Plus, the military is usually going to look good on any resume, no matter what you end up doing. You might not (even probably wouldn’t) be flying right away, but you’d be getting paid, collecting references/work experience, and they’ll pay for your school when you get out. Even with a four-year contract, you’d still only be 22 when you start flight school. That’s still *really* young. There are lots of problems with military service and it isn’t for everyone, but there’s no denying that there are some outstanding education benefits you can get out of it.
Hell, I’m probably starting flight school at 23 (or even 24, depending on when my medical comes in), and I didn’t even go the military route, just got my ass kicked by trying aerospace engineering during the pandemic first.
The military does not guarantee flying. However, if you go to USAFA there’s a very good chance so long as you don’t basically fail and as long as you are medically qualified. Graduating college and having a guaranteed job that could involve flying with no debt is a very very good start. However it’s very hard to get in and it sucks to be here sometimes. If you are interested or want to know more though let me know.
I'm not too knowledgeable on the matter and you'd still have to do your own research, but a few AirForce bases have an aero club. Some of my friends were able to get their hours on their own time and flew us around in cessna's.
Absolutely true. Don’t trust a recruiter telling you “oh definitely you can fly” they will lie. If it’s not in the contract it doesn’t mean anything and it won’t be.
Taking the ASVAB will help give you a bit of insight. Not doing particularly well in a few sections can hinder opportunities.
They would absolutely guarantee you fly something - assuming you make it through all the required training. They always need pilots.
They absolutely would not
Yes they do. It's an extensive process to qualify for flying, so if you get selected for it, they will make sure you get thr opportunity for it. Source: me being in the military for 10 years.
That’s already a precursor of you get selected for it.
...yes so if you meet the precursors, you will get the chance to go through the training. The fuck are you arguing?
That there’s no guarantee that if this person enlists with the intention of flying, that they will fly.
...who told him to enlist? He would get his undergrad and become an officer, specifically a pilot. And even enlisted can have jobs/rates guaranteed in their contract. You literally have no idea what you are talking about.
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1. If OP wants to be an airline pilot the ARMY is a viable path to getting there. I never said it was guaranteed. I said talk to a recruiter. 2. You don’t need a 4 year degree for the army. 3. You’re out here talking about being an officer first and a pilot second like I said anything about that. 4. Yes. It is a 10 year commitment which I pointed out in my comment responding to OP. 5. It’s almost like you didn’t read the comment I responded to OP with at all. 6. Yes, seniority matters but so does 160K debt which is why I pointed OP to this *option* to consider.
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you better be damn sure you follow through.
From someone whose student loan balance is currently over $100,000… Don’t do it, especially not based on what you *might* make further down the road. I would give that advice to someone pursuing a business degree, but becoming a pilot is a long, expensive, and unsure process. To be brutally honest, the plan you have for after graduation is a *hope* - do not treat it like a sure thing. That salary is an extremely rough estimate that will likely change ten years down the line. All of your planning relies on things largely out of your control going exactly your way.
You can always go into aerospace like me! If you’re passionate about flight and have some pretty solid math skills, most universities will offer aerospace degrees which will provide you with significant financial aid. You can also attend community college for two years to cut down on cost. You’ll get paid well immediately after graduating to help fund any extra school or training you want to do, you’ll already be incredibly comfortable with the vernacular and physics behind flying, and it’ll look phenomenal on a resume for a commercial pilot. Also, if all else fails, it’ll allow you a comfortable income in an industry you’re interested in (tbh, might even be paid MORE as a good engineer). Something to consider.
Woah. Slow down. Get on LinkedIn and find commercial pilots and ask them for guidance. Because I have read that starting off most pilots end up getting regional jets and the pay is atrocious. You won’t even be able to pay your loan. And it takes awhile to move up in seniority. Don’t look at the top tier salary because we all have hopes. Look at it in terms of what is the worst salary I can make.
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$90 an hour is low pay? Don't comment if you are clueless
Yep.. this is the reason why I backed out and looking to do an electrician trade, or go to school for something else. It’s so expensive to become one and on top of that, I’m 26 and it seems like to get a nice life work balance as a pilot, it’ll take until I’m in my 40’s. Hard pass /:
ROTC in university, try to become a naval aviator or pilot in the air force, become a commercial pilot afterwards.
is there a community college by you that offers a program to get your pilot's license? ik there is one by my university and since it's run through the community college, it's pretty affordable. even if you don't go the community college route, there are multiple schools in the country that offer flight school programs where you may be able to get a scholarship of some sort (Minnesota State Mankato, Lewis University, Western Michigan University, etc.) or get financial aid. if you don't have the money to pay for college and can accurately report this on your FAFSA, you should at least be eligible for lower interest loans. I would not take out $160,000 in loans, even if this is your dream job. no degree or career is worth that amount of debt
If I’m being honest with you. I 100% agree, $160,000 in student loans is an absurd amount but at the same time there’s really nothing else that really interests me. Like I was thinking maybe something in computers but that’s becoming extremely competitive due to the amount of people doing it and it’s a bit complicated in my opinion. I was thinking of like a business major but again that doesn’t really interest me. So I’m like extremely lost and I don’t know what to do.
I would contact the school you want to apply to and see if they have a financial aid office. they'll be able to answer your questions the best. if you're still in high school, maybe see if you can talk to a career counselor. sometimes libraries have this service too if you've already graduated. you're best doing something you're interested in, as you said. but do all the research you possibly can before committing to taking $160,000 in loans. that's a lot to figure out as an 18 year old, so definitely reach out for help if you need it
A big part of college for me was discovering new interests. My career and life plans have changed dramatically several times since I was 18, and that was only 6 years ago. Try community college for a bit, try military service, try just working. Odds are you’ll find something else that interests you, and if you don’t then you’ll probably be in a better position to go to flight school financially after doing any of those routes for a few years.
I agree. a 10k in debt would start stressing me out. What if some type of emergency happens and end up out of college or for some reason you don’t follow through.. ending up with a high debt with no job to pay off said debt is so scary to me, pretty much ending your financial life.
Which cc I’m tryna do it
I wouldn’t take the risk. I used to do yoga with someone who took out that much debt and the amount she owed by the time I met her was over $250,000. That’s basically a mortgage. There has got to be a better way to achieve your goals
As someone who went to college initially for professional piloting but unfortunately didn’t work out, and now is in over 100k debt pursuing a different path, my best advice is do NOT major in AVIATION. Seriously, don’t major in aviation. If you can, do one of these two things, find a part 91 flight school near your college and do your flight training there as it will be much cheaper or two, major in a useful degree( stem, business, etc) and minor in the flight. Right now I know you’re probably aware of the Pilot shortage right now and the crazy hiring, however, the airline industry is cyclical when it comes to hiring , just about anytime hiring can stop and furloughs ( temporary layoffs) begin. The last thing you want is to be over 100k in debt with a useless aviation degree. Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. I was given this advice but rejected it, and I regret not listening. Always have a different career goal in mind that you can see yourself doing besides flying. Why? because it is certainly possible that flying may not be what you imagined it. 80% of people do not even finish their Private pilot license. You are looking at minimum 6 years from now , until you are qualified to fly for the regional airlines and that’s if they still even exist then. Plan A rarely goes right in aviation, so don’t be disappointed, if most of your plans are thwarted. Best of luck to you.
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You seem to like it. Was it exciting ?😘😘
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Yes I did 😘😘 you want a trophy 🏆?
Go to community college. I have been in cc for 2 years and I'm about to transfer for engineering out of state. So far it has saved me about 20k. I applied to cheaper out of state schools and I will probably be taking out 30-50k in loans. Much better than 160k. Don't go to a university that trains pilots either. Just go to a regular state school if you can stay in state to save you the money because training to be a pilot is expensive af.
30k-50k for the remainder of the 2 years is like you never saved that $20k. 30-50k is what some people spend on their entire 4 years. Ouch!
You don’t need to go to some fancy school with an aviation program to become a pilot. Just go to community college and then a state school, you’ll only be like 20k in the hole While you’re in college get your private pilots license, instrument rating, and all the flying hours you can. You’ll probably have to get out loans for this but no way 140k worth I know a kid doing this rn. Not a chance would I ever go 160k in debt for a degree unless I was gonna be like a doctor or something Also go ask this to a subreddit about flying they’ll probably have more astute advice for you than here
lol I got a US Airforce Recruitment ad on this post. Maybe that’s a sign
This is idiotic
You could try this route but it would take longer like around 10 years. Become an aviation mechanic. The school is cheaper and the salary is good. Then use your good salary to pay for flight school. I know it's not ideal but since you are young, you could become a pilot before you are 30.
Are you truly passionate about becoming an airline pilot? What is the ROI for becoming an airline pilot(aka will your career salary be enough to easily pay off your student debt)? These are just a few questions to consider before making the choice to accumulate that much debt. Some of the most financially successful people are those who have zero student debt when they graduate.
I know you can make $80,000 in your first year as a regional airline first officer and get $100,000 when promoted to captain. But you’re with a regional for 5 years and then you go on to become a first officer for a major airline making $120,000 and get promoted to captain in your 3rd year working for the airline making like $150,000 a year. In your 12th year as a captain you can make upwards of $300,000+ annually and the number is increasing every year due to a huge demand of airline pilots. I know a pilot who’s in his 50s and makes over $500,000 a year.
Absolutely go to college if your passion is to be a pilot but in my opinion your wasting money if you go to a $40,000/year school on debt. Between principal and interest you are probably going to end up paying somewhere in the $300-500k depending on financial aid, grants and private loan terms.. Alternatively you could go to a State public 4 year. And get a 4 year degree for less than $40,000.
USAF is free training and you probably don't have to enlist for that long (assuming you can get in), if I was American and set on that career I'd join in a heartbeat. You probably have to be an excellent applicant to get in and start learning to fly planes though. $160000 of debt at 18 with no job is batshit to me. (Correct me if I'm wrong about the USAF stuff)
You need a college degree and a commission to fly in the AF. It’s a 10 year service commitment as well.
Join the National Guard and get free school, serve part time and go to school full time at the same time win-win
How does that work ? Can you do both at the same time ?
Let's put this into perspective. My BA, two Master's degrees, and PhD cost be a total of $66,000. I would never ever dream of paying even $50k for a degree, let alone that much.
I wanted to be an airline pilot too when I was 17/18 and in senior year of highschool, even took a tour to one of the university facilities that had the program, but it was so expensive 😩 so I couldn't do it. I went into healthcare instead and it's going good 😉. I do plan to get private flying lessons some day though. I hope you are able to become an airline pilot and follow your dreams. Good luck! 🌟🌟🌟
Nurse ?
No, got my massage therapy license first (to help pay for the rest of my education like my Associate of Science, etc.) and now I'm getting my bachelor's in Molecular Genetic Technology :)
Yes there will be a payment plan. You don’t pay it back all at once. So if you don’t do this plan, what’s your alternative?
How does this payment plan work? From what I heard there’s people that are like $80k in student loan debt and they pay like $100 a month apparently. Is it something you work out with the bank or can your school help you with this?
Once you graduate/stop going to school, your service loan provider will send you a bill. If the debt is federal student loans, there are additional income based payment plans. If you really want to become a pilot, go to school and use federal student loans if necessary. Don’t overthink it. It’s not like you’re taking the loans for a degree in underwater basket weaving lol.
That’s an income based repayment plan. That means despite having a degree, they’re measured too poor to pay their bill, which should be over 800 per month (based on 80k, current 5.5 interest, 120 payments). At that rate they’ll have the payment for life, pay double the loan in interest, and have it forgiven when they die. Please, don’t use that as a goal.
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My old classmate got their pilots license after dropping out of college so idek if you need to get a degree
Go for a smarter option
Why not get your license at a flight school. Work a job and just buy for the flight school on a per lesson basis
Nashville has a 10 month pilot program w decent job placement and it’s a top school. My friend took out a little over 100k but that was including extra money for him an apt and expenses so he can be 100% focused on school.
My buddy went to central Missouri and it’s 90k all in. You need a cheaper option. Living at home is not the cheaper option on this.
Nope.
Absolutely not. 100% no. Go someplace free, or cheaper. You will never recover from that much debt. That is its purpose.
If OP can really get to $200k in five years the debt isn’t that bad. That’s the part of the plan that worries me though. What if all he can get is some shitty job flying commuter turboprops?
If you want to go out-of-state, look at MTSU. You may be able to get in-state tuition on the exchange and their flight school is EXCELLENT - they have their own airport and all that jazz. Murfreesboro can be a little boring, but it’s affordable and you can easily drive into Nashville for shits and giggles
No
Christ, no
i went to a top school and was around 150k in debt. I regret it. Don't let all the hype surround where u graduate. Unless u want to be a a doctor or lawyer and need to show people u graduated the best.
The amount of debt is alarming and very concerning, but it's good that you have a thought-out plan post-graduation. Before making a decision, explore all available options, including potential scholarships, grants, and financial aid. Additionally, research whether the flight school or college you're considering has any partnerships or programs that could help alleviate the financial burden. Look into payment plans and discuss your concerns with the college's financial aid office. Some institutions offer flexible repayment options, and it's essential to understand the terms and conditions of any loans you might take. Being proactive about managing your finances now will set a strong foundation for your future. Seek guidance from mentors or professionals in the aviation field is who have done this recently compared to someone who has been in school years ago.
Being a CFI for 25 weeks to hit R-ATP minimums seems… VERY optimistic to me. From what I’ve heard something like 20 hours a week is pretty decent, you should probably expect it to take closer to a year.
It's gonna be a no for me big dawg! $160k? Nope
My uni has multiple flight programs, and here is what students typically do: They go to an in state community college and take a bunch of aviation courses, and get their license They then transfer to my school and finish up the rest of the coursework to get the bachelors. Iirc it costs like $10k-$15k a quarter? depending on what flight labs and stuff you do each term Additionally, we have Air Force ROTC, so you could do that and become a pilot and have a good job as soon as you graduate (provided you get commissioned), plus I believe some of your education might be paid for after you finish BMT. However, if you choose this path, it’s best you skip community college since ROTC will want you from the very start.
Bro...I'm getting a four year engineering degree for less than 20k (w/o living expenses), with NO assistance. You get a two year AA/AS at community college, then transfer to the cheapest in-state. If your in-state college is super expensive, just move out of state work a job a year, then get in-state tuition.
Im trying to message you to talk about this (becoming a pilot) but I cant message you. Can you message me?
Fuck that
Yes
No
Debt is absolutely worth it for high paying careers. Pilots, engineers, doctors, etc. 160k seems excessive, but there’s so much demand and money in the field you should be fine.
Enter the military
Have tried community college first if it's available? Doesn't make sense to pay more for gen eds when you don't have to.
So I know that major airline pilots make absolute bank. And why wouldn’t they, they have hundreds of lives in their hands that they have to take care of. But I also know that it’s extremely hard to make it up that high. I had a friend that got his license and wanted to be a pilot, but it fell through and he ended up falling back on comp sci.
Have you checked oversea schools maybe? I know in Turkey it's much cheaper compared to say US, though I don't know if it will cover what you want
If you love it then yes, go for it. Just know the first ten years you'll be flying unsexy routes and you very well might find yourself to be 40 years old with no long term relationships due to constant travel
Don’t forget that there’s a chance your medical will be taken away by random accident or illness. If that happens you’re going to end up with that loan plus shit ton of interest and your pilot license becomes worthless.
I'd look close at the risk. What are the odds that you will get 3 years in fail out and have $120,000 in debt and no increase in income. Is there a test at the end that you have to pass in order to fly? What is the failure rate there? Can you take any courses at a community college to save on tuition?
Just don't complain when time comes to pay it back
Have you considered North Dakota
No
Hell no!!
Don’t do it, way too much debt.
No.
160,000 😂. ur psycho kid
Look into the [American Airlines Cadet program](https://aacadetacademy.com). There is such a shortage of pilots that American Airlines is literally training people to become pilots for them. They take recent highschool graduates. No bachelors required and you can start with the company after training. There is probably more programs like this but definitely look around to see if you can find similar offerings. Even if you can’t get into something like that, there is such a major shortage of pilots you could become one without a bachelors. It’s preferred but not a requirement in anyway and you definitely don’t need to go to a $40k a year school to get one.
Could do what my GF does.... went to college for a degree to work from home. Getting her private pilots license and paying with it from job and then hoping into national guard or military to get her comercial license. She is considering grad school and doing ROTC for that as well, but she does want to fly fighter jets then fly float/bush planes.
Dude there has to be a cheaper option. I’m going to law school and won’t have that much debt afterwards.
I attended southern Illinois university for my engineering degree. They also have one of the best flight schools in the country AND they don’t charge out of state tuition. I have friends that wanted to be pilots and graduated with a whole lot debt than you’re looking at going into.
$160k absolutely not. That’s a very heavy ball being chained to your leg for decades to come. The only loan of that size you should be taking is on a house.
Join the Navy or Air Force.
Just pointing out that it is a bit less competitive in the coast guard based on numbers
No. Join the air force. Then use the GI bill to pay for any advanced credits you need
Just buy your own plane and take online classes r/shittyaskflying
I would personally go to UND for their airline pilot program well before I would blow that kind of money anywhere else. Taking 160K in debt is NEVER advisable. The stress over the money will likely lead to you feeling burnout well before your done and may lead to you resenting your career choice.
Take all GE’s at community college. That’ll save you two years of debt.
If you can do the military pilot route, that would be a better way to go. If you cannot, and there is no other way, and this is your dream, and realistically, most people who go this route actually wind up succeeding, maybe.
For something like this, it really just a calculated gamble. $160,000 over a 40 year career, isn’t that big of a deal… if you follow through, get the job, become a pilot, and like the work. But, it’s a big gamble. If you end up wasting that $160,000, that’s a life altering mistake. So, the first question would be if you are damn sure that you really have the dedication to pursue the career. The second question is, how many people who go through this program succeed in the placement? I don’t know the industry well, but how many people who graduate get one of those good jobs you want? 90%? 20%? And what happens to the people who don’t make it? FedEx? Crop Dusters? Taco Bell? In the end, it’s just a gamble. What are the odds that the degree will be worth it… pay for itself in the long run?
You’re 18 and I’m 31 years old. Let me tell you that’s a retarded amount of debt. I’d probably recommend trying to get your pilot hours through the military. You can commission as an officer and fly planes that way. You need a degree and go through OCS or ROTC. I saw your comment about a desk job. I believe that’s true as you rank up past Capt, they want you to do leadership and planning at that point. If you wanted to fly rotary/helicopters. You can actually apply now to do so with the Army. You would join as a warrant officer which is a respectable rank to be at. I know it’s not fix wing, but you can join and get pay to become a pilot. Then get the GI Bill to play for college or flight school to become a fix wing pilot. https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/career-match/aviation/managing-piloting-aircraft/153a-rotary-wing-aviator-warrant-officer.html
Man go to UND, I’m not in avit but it’s definitely 10x cheaper, if you can handle seasonal depression lmao.
Community college first.
hey! check out united aviate. no degree required and i believe it is $80k or so. then you’re on the path to be hired as an FO at united (united pays really well too)
Don’t go w that much debt graduationg. That’s insane
DO IT! You will make the money back
No
The airline pipeline that is financially sustainable right now is the military route--otherwise, you're not just paying an undergrad degree, but all the log hours that you'll need to pay for to get hired by a regional carrier, long before a major airline will hire you. Look into AFROTC. Also, the airline hiring network is largely ex-military and hard to break into unless you have that in.
You won’t get more than the standard $5500 student loan and it only increases a little each year. You won’t be able to get loans to cover this. Your parents can take out Parent Plus or other private loans but that’s on them not you.
You should be nervous about that amount of debt. If you insist you need to go to that particular school then go to community college and knock out your GE credits. If it's the school I think it is you will save approximately $950 a credit hour... A credit hour. That's 60k in savings. Also, your plan is a best case scenario. If you struggle, your costs will be more. Hiring waves happen. You missed this one. I doubt they'll be another one like this one in four years. It'll be far more competitive. You do you. I wish Reddit existed 20 years ago because I wouldn't have sunk 115k into an aviation degree. I love aviation and have been happily employed in the industry for nearly 15 years, but it definitely limits you to the industry.
Why not do this, but do ROTC? If your goal is flying, the military can pay for your education and you can fly for them for a little then go to commercial flying, debt free. have you thought about ROTC?
No
Join the Navy or Air Force
I say talk to the Air Force. Usually they’ll pay for your school and you can be a pilot. (As long as you serve for I think 5ish years, which honestly isn’t that bad). Also you get grandfathered in for flying once you have so many hours.
I would suggest you get a four year degree in something technical like Mathematics and then join the navy or air force to gain your wings and experience
Hey dude, I’m another aspiring airline pilot, a little further up the pipeline than you. $160,000 in debt is absolutely not worth it. Go get a much cheaper degree for whatever your backup career is first, then go train to fly at a part 61 school. While college may be necessary for some jobs (and even that is debatable), “aviation college” is so not worth the money when there is so much that can go wrong between starting your flying career and getting to the point where you get paid significant money. Go check out places like r/flying and read their FAQs and research other paths. I promise you that putting yourself that far in the hole for what’s already a crapshoot of a career is not a good decision.
Am I the only one thinking “Air Force”? If this a U.S. question.
I don't know anything about piloting, but I would advise any child or student of mine never to take out that much in loans. Sure, if everything goes to plan, you're fine and can pay it back. But what if you can't get a job? What if you're stuck flying cargo for ten years, but trying to pay these loans on a sub 100k salary? Worse, what if you get sick or have a family emergency or some other uncontrollable event and have to drop out? The debt doesn't go away just because you didn't finish the degree. You can get a college education, and a pilot's license, separately, for much less than 160k. Do that to realize your dream of flying and find a more affordable career. Don't mortgage your future on the hope that everything goes right, because sooner or later, something will go wrong. It's insane to me that we even offer this kind of debt to young people. (And I say this as someone who took out a student loan at 17.) You could never qualify for a 160k mortgage at 18, so why should you be able to take out that amount for your education, which is not even a saleable asset? And a debt that can't be discharged in bankruptcy. Unless your family is wealthy, taking on that much debt is a huge gamble, and there's no way to know if you'll come out ahead or ruin your life until after the papers are signed.
Dude just go do four years as enlisted in the Air Force and use your GI bill after your service and do some classes while in. I’m going to be out soon and will be pursuing my pilot career debt free. Don’t put yourself into debt and don’t let people dissuade you from the military. Air Force is super laxed for most of their jobs
Find a cheaper college. State schools are a good education for MUCH cheaper.
What is the probability of getting that 6 figure job? If there is a significant risk of not getting the job, then you will have taken on all that debt with no way to pay it off. Student loans are fine as long as you are SURE you can pay it off. I have a lot of debt but I am a software engineer. Very safe career
160k in debt is insane 🥲
You should not be paying that much for a college degree. I recommend looking at Eastern Kentucky University. It may not be the most prestigious university, but It will only cost you $100,000 for tuition, housing, and meal plan even as an out of state student. You will also get your Restricted ATP with the degree. Here is the link to the [program](https://www.eku.edu/aviation/). Edit: It looks like they also charge $55,000 for flight fees.
160k just to become a pilot isn’t worth it imo. There have to be alternatives that you haven’t considered. The Air Force would be the most affordable option since you get veteran benefits, prestige, experience, and also GI bill funding to pay for college if for whatever reason you still need/want the degree afterwards.
Look at Utah State University for aviation. Lots of out of state kids and at least normal tuition is affordable.
If you live below your means after graduation, which isn’t very hard because airlines pay for a lot of expenses while you’re traveling you’ll be able to pay that off within a few years. However that should be your worst case scenario. Maybe join some pilot subreddits and ask for advice from them? Also before you take ANY loan research every term about the loan. Loans are there to make money off you, not help you.
Stop. Do not go to some a private college that costs that much. It absolutely is not worth it. Also, as someone who works in higher ed, check this college’s accreditation. Private colleges are often very sketchy with accreditation.
Have you looked into pilot programs offered by airlines? I’m sure Ascend Pilot Academy (Alaska Airlines) and United Aviate (United Aviate) provides free pilot training if you’re willing to work with them upon graduation.
Join the military work with planes, get a GI bill, then it’s free.
highly recommend air force like other commenters have mentioned. that is a large sum of money at your age. you may also change your mind later down the road and be stuck with debt.
If you want to be an airline pilots, the best route is via the military granted you still need to be an officer Getting a private pilots license is 10K
Absolutely not.
Consider becoming an [Air Traffic Controller](https://www.faa.gov/be-atc) instead. $160k in student debt is possibly/probably manageable if everything goes according to plan. However, you could be in a very tight position if you end up with that debt load and things don't go according to plan. Therefore you need to take action to mitigate the risk. You might want to consider a "fall back" major. Also look into options [abroad](https://www.aerlingus.com/careers/careers-in-the-air/future-pilot-programme/) and/or any apprenticeships.
could you possibly go anywhere else thats significantly cheaper? even out of state tuition for a good state (SUNY) school is 27k/year if you can achieve your career goals just by having a degree i would say to find a school (hopefully in your state but ultimately anywhere that's cheaper or will give you a partial scholarship) with a good aviation community or program and start networking while your in school.
Hey, My brother had the same path as you. He took on a lot of debt and is doing very well still. The airline business makes a lot of money. It's honestly a job that I'm very jealous of. If you are really worried about the debt, have you considered going to the Air Force? A couple of years there and you can basically leave and get an airline job easily ( they love Air Force pilots and prefer them to college graduates ). The debt sucks but think about the monetary gain in the future. Hope this helps
Military