One of the biggest concerns many of our students have when enrolling in flight school is the cost. How will you pay for all of the expenses that come with training to become a pilot?
Although High Flight keeps our program prices extremely reasonable (versus other flight schools), it’s still an investment. While paying for flight school differs from the “traditional” higher education model, there are many options to help students cover these expenses.
Federal Student Loans, Private Loans, and Financing may be available options in certain situations, but qualifying can be difficult. Many flight schools (High Flight included) are not 4-year accredited schools, so Federal Student Loans may be off the table (unless you are a student at a 4-year program like our partner CCBC).
At High Flight, we also offer in-house financing to students to help cover the cost of their flight schooling. You can find out more about this new offering here!
If you do not qualify for loans or financing right now, you can make a long-term plan to save up for your dream of learning how to fly. But in the meantime, there’s another option – scholarships!
Scholarships
Scholarships are the best way to pay for school since they never have to be paid back. There are scholarships for all types of students – collegiate and non-collegiate – which can make paying for flight school much easier. For many students, finding scholarships is often the hardest part. This list is a great place to start. Another place to look is the National Air Transportation Association’s scholarship offering.
Members of AOPA are eligible to apply for over $1 million of scholarship awards. Categories include High School Flight Training Scholarships, Teacher Flight Training Scholarships, Primary Flight Training Scholarships, and Advanced Flight Training Scholarships. For full eligibility and requirements, visit the AOPA Scholarship page. The next round of applications closes at 11:59 p.m., EDT on April 2, 2019.
The Pittsburgh-Butler Airport has also established the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport Future of Flight Scholarship. Although the deadline has already passed, we encourage you to keep an eye on their Guidelines and Application page for upcoming flight school scholarships.
Bottom Line
While the cost of flight school can seem daunting at first, investing in yourself and your future career is well worth the price. And with numerous options to help you along the way, paying for flight school should never scare away an interested future pilot! Need help getting started with all of this? Contact us today to discuss the best way forward for you!