Flight School vs College

Figure	What it is	Source
$123,960	Four years at a public university, in-state	College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025
$89,000	Nine months of career flight training
$80,200	Median pay with a bachelor’s degree	Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education pays 2024
$232,140	Median US airline pilot wage	Bureau of Labor Statistics, Airline and Commercial Pilots (May 2025 wages)

The short version

Four years and a degree, or nine months earning the licenses that can allow you to get paid to fly. College used to be considered the safe, traditional path. But with tuition costs continuing to rise and the job market becoming increasingly uncertain, a four-year degree is no longer the guaranteed return on investment it once seemed to be. In fact, many college graduates end up working in jobs that never required a degree in the first place.

For the right person, flight school can be a compelling alternative. Most U.S. airlines today are far more focused on your flight experience, qualifications, and total flight hours than whether you have a four-year college degree.

Of course, the right path depends on your individual goals, finances, and circumstances. But more and more students are realizing that college is not the only route to a successful, high-paying career.

What each one costs

Let’s take a look at how our program compares to the cost of college. We’ve taken the US averages, this might be different for your particular situation.

	Public university, in-state	Private nonprofit university	Career flight training
Published price	$123,960	$261,880	$89,000
Time	Four years. 64% finish within six	Four years	Nine months
What you hold at the end	A bachelor’s degree	A bachelor’s degree	Six certificates and ratings
What it qualifies you for	Jobs that ask for a degree, whichever those turn out to be	The same	One job, and it is the one you trained for
First paycheck from it	After graduation, wherever hires you	After graduation, wherever hires you	Month ten, teaching

College prices are College Board figures for 2025-26: tuition, fees, housing and food. Most families pay less than sticker once aid is counted.

What each one pays

Both college and flight school can be good ways to land high paying careers dependant on what you study. People with a bachelor’s degree earn a median of $80,200 a year, against $48,400 for high school graduates. And on the pilot side the current median pay for a pilot is $232,140.

College earnings figures can be misleading because they combine graduates across every major. What you study matters enormously. Degrees in fields like engineering, finance, and technology can lead to much higher-paying careers and may bring earnings closer to what professional airline pilots make. But there is also a large number of graduates who end up in jobs that never required a degree in the first place. Roughly half of graduates are underemployed one year after graduation, and only 36% of students who start a bachelor’s degree complete it within 4 years, the rest takes longer. Which shows why college is no longer the automatic next step after high school.

The pilot number is different because it represents one specific career, rather than an average across hundreds of different degrees and professions. The median pay for airline pilots is $232,140 per year, although you should not expect to earn that on day one. A new first officer at a regional airline may start around $85,000–$95,000 per year, potentially reaching that point roughly two to three years after their first flight lesson. From there, earnings can rise significantly as you gain seniority, upgrade to captain, and eventually move to a major airline. For many pilots, the long-term earning potential extends well into the six figures.

Things to consider

There are a couple of important factors to understand before deciding to start flight training. The two biggest hurdles for most students are financing and obtaining a medical certificate. Federal student aid typically does not cover standalone flight training, so most students need to explore other financing options. We work with financial partners that specialize in flight school loans and can help students finance their training.

The other major step is getting your FAA medical certificate. For students pursuing an airline career, we recommend obtaining a First-Class Medical Certificate before beginning training. It confirms that you meet the FAA’s medical standards required to eventually fly professionally and carry passengers. Most students complete their medical exam before spending significant money on training. That way, they know from the beginning that they meet the medical requirements for the career they are pursuing.

Where college wins

The few good reasons, in the order they should matter to you.

You are not sure yet: The big one. A degree keeps your options open and gives you somewhere to land if you change your mind. Flight training commits you to one industry at eighteen, with money that does not come back. If flying is still an interest rather than the plan, go to college.
The work you want is gated behind a degree: Medicine, law, engineering, teaching, the officer corps, most of the corporate ladder. If any of those are live options for you, the degree comes first and the flying can wait.
You want something to fall back on: Every paid flying job depends on an FAA medical. Most pilots hold theirs for a whole career, but if yours goes, the licenses go with it. A degree is a fallback that a pilot certificate cannot be.
You want the 500-hour head start: An aviation degree from an FAA-authorized school lets you fly for an airline at 1,000 hours instead of 1,500. That is months earlier in a seat. It is also the most expensive way to reach the same certificates, so weigh it against the time it buys.

Questions

Is college still worth it?

On average, yes. People with a bachelor’s degree earn a median of about $80,200 a year against $48,400 for high school graduates. That is the honest case for going. It is also an average across every major, and it counts the graduates working jobs that never needed the degree.

Do you need a degree to become an airline pilot?

No. Delta was the last US major to require one and dropped it in January 2022. Its hiring page now calls a degree highly preferred but not a requirement. The regionals, where new pilots start, never asked.

Is flight school cheaper than college?

At sticker price, yes. Four years in-state runs $123,960 against $89,000 for a full career program. Most families do not pay sticker for college, so a strong aid package narrows the gap.

What do pilots actually earn?

The median for airline pilots is $232,140. The first year is smaller, about $85,000 to $95,000 at a regional airline, and that arrives two to three years after your first lesson. It climbs steeply from there.

How long does it take without a degree?

Nine months for the certificates, then 1,500 hours for an ATP. Most pilots build those hours instructing, which pays. Two to three years from first lesson to an airline seat.

Can you use financial aid for flight school?

Not federal aid, which follows accredited degree programs. Flight school is usually a private career-training loan, savings, or VA benefits at an approved Part 141 school. Compare the rate and the term, not just the price.

What happens if you lose your medical certificate?

The flying stops, because every paid flying job depends on one. Most pilots hold theirs for a whole career, and most professional pilots carry loss-of-license insurance for the rest. It is the strongest argument for having a degree behind you.

Does an aviation degree get you hired sooner?

In one specific way. An aviation degree from an FAA-authorized school lets you fly for an airline at 1,000 hours instead of 1,500, which is months earlier in a seat. It is also the most expensive route to the same certificates.

What if I want both?

Train first, then finish a degree online while you instruct. Flight training is cheapest done in one go, and a degree tolerates being spread out.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026. Figures are the most recent published at that time. Wages, prices, rules and airline hiring minimums move, so check the source before you make a decision on one of these numbers.