Traditional flight training from an independent flight school or large organization, such as FlightSafety International, is one route to collecting pilot ratings. But for aspiring, young aviation professionals, the addition of a college degree from an aviation-specific university is a big draw. It provides not only a wide range of training and background, but also the solid backup that only a higher education can provide when it comes to career potential.
Return on investment when it comes to a college education is one of today’s hot topics, not just in family financial planning, but also national politics. Soaring costs of tuition, room-and-board and expenses make it increasingly difficult to finance that degree. Across the board, costs for higher education are going up an average of 4- to 6 percent annually. That contrasts with the overall inflation rate of around 2 percent over the past several years (it’s about the only good thing you can say about the depressed economy). That means college expenses are on pace to double every 12 to 18 years, rather than the 32 years we would expect overall expenses to double at the current rate.
Still, a college education remains the most critical component in a successful career – especially a career in aviation. It’s still seen as a solid investment. For pilots, it translates to a much better chance for advancement, but far more important, there are multiple other avenues open to graduates with more diverse career ambitions. There will always be a demand for people with degrees in engineering, business management, air traffic control, sales and marketing, computer technology (and software development); electronics, human resources, maintenance engineering, government advocacy and other areas. One good source of information on career opportunities and how to pursue them at the college level is the University Aviation Association (www.UAA.aero) – an organization representing more than 100 colleges and universities that have specialty aviation programs.
As with any advanced education degree, the challenge of financing college is not an easy one, especially when costly flight training is involved. But again, the good news is that there are ways to move forward, starting with pursuing scholarships. There are more than 700 aviation-specific scholarship programs totaling more than $1 million per year, and many go unapplied for. UAA keeps a list of scholarships and can help in the application process.
Many colleges and universities offer paid internships or work programs with nearby aviation companies or flight departments can offset some of the expenses. Even more important, students gain real-world experience when they get the chance to spend undergraduate time work for an outside company; and the contacts they establish can be invaluable later in their careers.
There’s one almost universal aspect of the aviation community that works in students’ favor – the love of flying is a great equalizer. Even grizzled veteran pilots have that love of flying in common with a young student studying aviation management, aeronautical engineering, air traffic control, or pursuing any other career path that has wings attached.
There’s also the less tangible aspect of the college experience. Students can maximize their experience by selecting the ideal campus size, living conditions, social atmosphere and student body diversity can optimize their investment, not only in tuition, but also in what can be the most formative years of their adult lives.