Aviation Schools and Programs in The United States

Aviation Studies in The United States

Students from the CUNY Aviation Institute at York College working on a internship in Greece.

Aviation in the United States is studied along three main routes: professional flight (pilot training combined with a college degree), aviation maintenance, and aviation management or air traffic control. Courses are taught at universities, at community and technical colleges, and at flight schools. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues the pilot and mechanic certificates that the profession requires, so most programmes are built around FAA requirements.

How aviation studies are organised

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the FAA certifies hundreds of civilian flight schools, which range from small fixed base operators to state universities, and some colleges and universities offer pilot training as part of a 2- or 4-year aviation degree. Community colleges award two-year associate degrees; the bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study, according to EducationUSA.

Pilots typically earn their FAA certificates and ratings in this order:

• Student pilot certificate
• Private pilot certificate
• Instrument rating
• Commercial pilot certificate
• Multi-engine rating
• Airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate

Each certificate and rating requires a knowledge test on the ground and a practical flying exam, usually called a check ride. All pilot crews of a scheduled commercial airliner must have ATP certificates.

Aircraft mechanics typically attend an FAA-approved aviation maintenance technician programme. The FAA offers separate certificates for airframe and powerplant work, and employers may prefer mechanics who hold both ratings (A&P). Programmes affiliated with community colleges also allow students to earn an associate degree.

Admission, language and visa

Teaching is in English, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Undergraduate applications for a September start are typically due between November and January. A pilot must also pass an FAA medical exam: for the commercial pilot certificate it confirms that vision is correctable to 20/20 and that no physical or mental condition could impair performance.

The United States has three student visa types. The F visa is for study at an accredited college or university, and the M visa is for non-academic or vocational study or training. Before applying, a student must be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Students interested in flight training outside a degree should ask the school which visa its programme supports.

Air traffic control is a special case. The BLS states that air traffic controllers must be a US citizen and complete training at the FAA academy, so this route is in practice not open to most international students as a career in the United States.

Where to study aviation in the United States

The 20 schools listed for aviation include universities with flight and management degrees and community colleges with technical programmes. Examples:

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, and more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programmes
• Jacksonville University in Florida, whose School of Aviation is part of the Davis College of Business & Technology; its Aviation Management and Aviation Management & Flight Operations degrees are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI)
• Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, whose Emil Buehler Aviation Institute offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees and certificates, including a Professional Pilot Technology programme under FAA Part 141 and airframe and powerplant mechanic certificates that comply with FAR Part 147
• Large public universities such as Purdue University, The Ohio State University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of North Texas
• Private universities such as Lewis University and Saint Louis University
• Community and technical colleges such as Greenville Technical College, Lansing Community College and Somerset Community College

Recognition of the qualification

US institutions are not centrally managed; they are accredited at national or regional level by independent accrediting bodies. Aviation programmes can also hold specialised accreditation from AABI. FAA certificates are US licences: graduates who plan to fly or maintain aircraft in another country should ask their national aviation authority how an FAA certificate is converted before they enrol.

Careers

The BLS notes that airline pilots typically need a bachelor's degree in any field and experience as a commercial or military pilot. Many pilots work first as flight instructors or charter pilots to build flying hours. Jacksonville University states that its graduates can qualify for a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificate with 1,000 flight hours.

Employment of airline and commercial pilots is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,400 openings a year. The median annual wage for commercial pilots was $123,220 in May 2025. Employment of aircraft and avionics mechanics and technicians is projected to grow 6 percent over the same period; the median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $79,870 in May 2025. These figures describe the US labour market and do not imply a right to work there after graduation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a degree to become a pilot in the United States?

Not for the certificates themselves, but the BLS states that airline pilots typically need a bachelor's degree, and that some employers require or prefer a degree for commercial pilots.

Which visa do international aviation students need?

Degree students at an accredited college or university use the F visa; the M visa is for non-academic or vocational training. In both cases the school must be SEVP-certified.

Can an international student become an air traffic controller in the United States?

Generally not. According to the BLS, air traffic controllers must be a US citizen.