Would you like to become a professional or commercial pilot? Do you have the ambition of touring the skies? Or probably you don’t really want to fly but stay on the ground and make designs of complex planes and maintain them. I will take you through the best Schools for aviation 2023
Or maybe you dream to lead a team of researchers in a jet propulsion laboratory. Whatever it is you desire, getting a degree in one of these top aviation colleges/ best Schools for aviation in the world will help you achieve that.
Really, the Aviation industry is an extremely diverse sector that offers job opportunities in various areas. These job opportunities range from customer service to positions with very complicated technical tasks.
However, employment growth and employment prospects for aviation professionals usually vary from one concentration to another.
A recent study has shown that the average salary a professional airline pilot collects every year is about $105,720.
And the employment growth in the sector is projected to to grow at a rate of 5% by 2024.
For mechanics and equipment technicians, jobs are to increase by 1%, an average salary of $ 60,270 a year.
Below is a list of some top Schools for aviation that have stood the test of time. They have produced most of the renowned airline master pilots across the world.
Aviation Colleges: What you need to know
Schools for Aviation offer various types of education, and many schools cover more than just piloting. Students can pursue programs in airport management, aircraft engineering, air traffic control, and flight stewardship. However, many programs focus on aircraft piloting.
Pilot training occurs at many levels: Private pilots focus on small aircraft for personal use, while airline transport pilots prepare students to pilot major commercial aircraft. Piloting smaller, single-engine aircraft requires lower levels of education, while commercial piloting typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree.
WHY GET A DEGREE IN AVIATION?
Earning a degree from one of the best aviation colleges offers several professional and personal benefits. See below for five common reasons students attend flight school.
- PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENTProfessional flight training is a universal requirement for pilots. Earning a degree is the surest path to a career in the aviation field.
- SPECIALIZED SKILLSAn aviation program builds the technical skills and knowledge necessary for a career as a pilot. Students learn about aircraft operation, aviation law, and weather factors.
- HIGHER SALARY POTENTIALAn aviation degree confers advanced skills that enable graduates to pursue a wider selection of careers with higher salary potential. In general, more advanced degrees yield higher average salary levels.
- NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIESMany aviation programs partner with major airlines and other aviation employers. Enrolling in these programs can offer students a larger professional network and increased employment opportunities after graduation.
- LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONAviation programs prepare students for various types of licensure and certification, which are required for pilot careers. Advanced certification can also increase employment prospects.
ACCREDITATION FOR AN AVIATION DEGREE
When researching aviation colleges, prospective students should ensure a school possesses proper accreditation. Accreditation functions to regulate colleges and universities, demonstrating that an institution meets nationally and regionally designated education standards. A school that lacks proper accreditation may not adequately prepare students for work in their chosen field.
Accreditation comes in two major forms: national and regional. National accreditation serves trade and vocational schools, while regional accreditation serves traditional four-year colleges. Most colleges offering aviation programs should be regionally accredited by one of the six major regional accreditation agencies. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation provides a list of approved accrediting organizations for more information on these agencies.
While a college as a whole may possess regional or national accreditation, individual programs can also hold programmatic accreditation from industry-specific accreditation agencies. Many aviation programs are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International.
Purdue University Aviation College
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue Aviation college is one of the world’s most prestigious aviation colleges. This is the place Neil Armstrong, the first man to land on the moon, graduated from. This aviation school at Purdue University is known for the nickname “Cradle of Astronauts,” according to U.S. News & World Report.
Degree Programs: Purdue’s College of Technology has students in various aeronautical degree programs. There are students in aeronautical engineering technology, air traffic control, aviation management, and professional flight technology.
The College of Technology at Purdue also offers a master of science in aviation & aerospace management.
Tuition: Tuition fees at Purdue Aviation College usually range from $10,000 for residents. It ranges from $28,000 for non-residents.
University of North Dakota
Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota
This is another notable school of aviation you won’t deny a mention when listing top aviation colleges in the world.
The school is owned by John D. Odegard. The John Odegard School of Aerospace Studies at the University of North Dakota has long been known as a place where top-notch aero-space experts are raised.
It prides itself on providing the highest possible standard of professional flight without burdening the student with astronomical tuition fees.
This aviation college offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs. Students offering each of these programs have the opportunity to add a minor or specialty certification.
They also offer undergraduate degree programs in business administration as well as aeronautics. And can as well earn a master’s and/or Ph.D. in aerospace sciences.
Each degree, be it undergraduate, graduate, or master’s, includes mandatory flight course requirements.
Degree Programs: Students at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences can earn a degree in airport management, aviation management, air traffic control, aviation technology management, and more. UND also offers a master of science in aviation and a doctorate in aerospace sciences.
Tuition: Tuition ranges from $8,447 for North Dakota residents to $20,047 for non-residents.
Students: UND has almost 12,000 students throughout all of the university’s degree programs. About 900 of those are in the flight program.
Ohio State University Aviation College
Location: Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State University is a school with one of the world’s best aviation colleges. In fact, It has one of the top aviation colleges in the USA.
Degree Programs: Students can offer aeronautical programs here. The OSU’s Engineering’s Center for Aviation Studies is undoubtedly among the best aviation colleges in the world. This aviation college offers both undergraduate and graduate aviation degree programs.
Tuition: Tuition fees range from $4,223 to $10,023 depending on residency versus non-residency.
Students: The average number of undergraduate students enrolled at Ohio State University is 45,800.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College of Aviation
Location: ERAU has three campuses; one at Daytona Beach, Florida, another at Prescott, Arizona and the last one is known as ERAU Worldwide & Worldwide Online.
This prestigious college of aviation which also known as Harvard of the Skies is a school which has raised more graduates than any other aviation university. That’s because it is the oldest and largest with aviation university programs.
Degree Programs: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has over 60-degree programs which include aeronautical science, aeronautical and aerospace engineering, global security & intelligence, air traffic control, and business administration and many more. ERAU is the only aviation college to offer a doctorate in aviation.
Tuition: Generally, tuition for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University ranges from $48,992 to $50,570.
Students: There are 6,900 students on all three campuses.
Western Michigan University Aviation College
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan but the flight department is at W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Western Michigan University college of aviation is one of the best aviation colleges in the USA. The college has existed 75 years and has proven itself as a well-regarded highly revered aviation college in the world.
Degree Programs: Students in the College of Aviation can offer degree programs in aviation management, aviation flight science, and aviation maintenance.
Tuition: Tuition fees usually range from $10,000 for residents to $24,000 for nonresidents, but students enrolling from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin receive a reduced tuition rate.
Students: There are about 24,000 students enrolled at Western Michigan University.
San Jose State University College of Aviation
Location: San Jose, California
The San Jose State University College of Engineering offers a degree in Aviation Technology. The aviation department began in 1936 when students in the math department asked about the flight.
Ever since, the school has been serving students with an interest in business, technical, or active flying careers.
Degree Programs: This aviation college offers two bachelor’s programs, a bachelor of science in aviation degree and a bachelor of science in industrial technology. Within either of these degrees in aviation, students can specialize in operations, maintenance management, aviation management, or professional flight.
Tuition: The graduate business professional tuition fees are $270 per unit/credit.
Students: The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at San Jose State University is about 32,000.
Academy College
Location: Bloomington, MN
Academy College is another with a top aviation college. The school is a private aviation college which was founded in 1936.
The structured, results-oriented curriculum offered at Academy College ensures it equips students with the knowledge and training essential to achieving success as a pilot.
The courses offered here are FAA approved and are conducted under FAR Part 141. The courses are taught by pilots and allow students to develop relationships with industry professionals.
Degree Programs: Academy College offers several degree options in the aviation field such as Associate of Applied Science in the aviation business, a certificate program in professional pilot, and a resident and correspondence program in aircraft dispatch.
Hallmark University
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Hallmark University is a private career school which was founded in 1969 is one school in the world that has an aviation college. Hallmark Aviation College is among the top aviation colleges in the world.
It has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Aviation Maintenance Technician School.
Degree Programs: The school of Aeronautics at Hallmark University offers both associate and diploma programs. Diploma programs offered include aviation technician, airframe technician, and power plant technician.
Students may choose one of two associate of applied science degree programs in aviation, in airframe technology or power plant technology.
The fifteen-month degree programs prepare graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to become professionals in aviation.
The programs require between 54 and 90 credits and between 1174 and 1926 hours of practice in learned skills. Each of the programs instils graduates with the entry-level skills necessary to successfully enter the field of aviation.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Spartan has produced graduates who have continued on to make remarkable contributions within the aviation industry. Spartan College offers programs which encompass the areas of aviation, aerospace, manufacturing, and technology.
Degree Programs: Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology offers a range of programs in aviation including associate and bachelor’s degrees and diploma programs.
Students have the option of pursuing diploma programs in avionics maintenance technology, non-destructive testing diploma programs, avionics maintenance technology, quality control and professional pilot degree, and aviation management.
The Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance, and majors in avionics, quality control, and flight programs, prepare the student for entry-level positions within their field of interest.
They can complete the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology Management in 16 months and combines training, education, and experience to ensure it equips graduates with the skills necessary to become successful professionals in their field.
Rio Salado College
Location: Tempe, Arizona, USA
Rio Salado’s employee development partnership program provides advanced training to those work in the airlines industry.
Degree Programs: Certificates are available in several areas of airline operations including Reservations and Ticketing Services, Passenger Services, and Ground Operations.
The Associate in Applied Science in Airline Operations provide students with the opportunity to specialize in specific areas while still meeting the rigid Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
Students: Students must be employees of a Rio Salado partner to enter this program.
Aeroism Flight Academy
Location: Sanford, Florida
Aeroism Flight Academy was established in 1989 and is considered a leading institution for pilot training. Recognized for the quality of their graduates, Aeroism Flight Academy has produced first officer candidates for the most successful regional airlines
Degree Programs: The programs offered here provide students with advanced, industry-relevant curriculum and training which prepares them for careers in top airlines as first officers, nationally and internationally.
Furthermore, the programs train students in safety, efficiency, and customer service. Students from around the world enrol at Aeroism Flight Academy because of the quality of their programs.
This school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Many technicals and aerospace schools now offer a portion of their degree programs online, often at in-state tuition costs, regardless of your place of residence.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the world’s top and brightest aviation universities. MIT, the number 1 school on QS World University Rankings is one of the best places in the world to be an engineering student.
The MIT AeroAstro, whose roots go back to 1914 is the oldest aerospace engineering program of its kind in the United States.
Degree Programs: There are two ways to earn an aeronautics degree from MIT. The university offers a traditional BS in Aerospace Engineering or the broader engineering program, through which you’ll study aviation through a multidisciplinary curriculum. Both programs are the best of their kind.
The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in the field.
Tuition: $26,725 (Fall and Spring 2021)
Students: Around 11,000 students attend the highly competitive MIT.
Georgia Institute Of Technology
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
The Georgia Institute of Technology, known as Georgia Tech, is a public university in Atlanta. It is one of the top 10 aviation schools in the US. And many of its individual departments are equally renowned.
It is a member of the University System of Georgia and organized into six separate colleges, all of which provide degree programs in engineering, business, and the sciences.
Degree Programs: Georgia Tech’s Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering offers a BS degree that combines coursework with a ton of lab and research experience. As a student, you will explore everything from structural analysis to jet propulsion.
In your senior year, you will invest in a capstone project in one of three areas: rotorcraft, fixed-wing, and spacecraft.
Tuition: $13,788
Students: Nearly 30,000 students attend Georgia Tech.
United States Naval Academy
Location: Annapolis, MD
The United States Naval Academy is in Annapolis, MD, and is one of the nation’s oldest service academies. It is designated as an approved “technological institution” and offers several degree programs across the STEM fields.
The Aerospace Engineering Department offers one of the most exciting and challenging academic programs at the Naval Academy. The program is structured to produce naval officers who will meet the challenges of serving in such areas as naval aviation, space, and research.
Degree Programs: When you earn a degree in aerospace engineering from the US Naval Academy you have two options for specialization: astronautics and aeronautics.
While the former introduces you to rocket propulsion and astrodynamics the latter highlights aeroplane stability, control, and design. Both are founded on the same curriculum which covers:
Principles of Aerospace Engineering
Structural Mechanics for Aerospace Engineers
Mechanics and Materials for Aerospace Engineers
Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering
Tuition: Tuition is free. Students who attend the Naval Academy do so on full scholarship.
Students: Around 4,500 students, or “midshipmen,” attend the United States Naval Academy
United States Air Force Academy
Location: El Paso County, Colorado
The United States Air Force Academy is based in El Paso County of Colorado. It is a military academy and the ideal place to earn an aviation degree if you hope to fly for the Air Force.
Degree Programs: This program gives students a sturdy and broad foundation in flight mechanics and aircraft design. Graduates have worked within and outside the Air Force as defence contractors, project managers, and aeronautical R&D engineers.
Some classes you’ll take include:
Aircraft Dynamic Stability and Control
Flight Test Techniques
Aircraft Feedback Control Systems
Aircraft Engine Design
Students: Around 4,500 students, or “midshipmen,” attend the United States Naval Academy
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