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Top 14 Aviation Scholarships in December 2022
In addition to providing an exciting career path, pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are also highly compensated. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for airline pilots was $130,440 in 2020! This makes aviation a very lucrative career pathway for students. The good news is that there are aviation scholarships and flight training scholarships to help support your education.
Jump ahead to:
- Top aviation scholarships
- How to win aviation scholarships
- Top colleges for aviation scholarships
- Resources for aviation students
- Frequently asked questions about aviation scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship categories
Keep on reading to learn more about specific aviation scholarships that students can apply for, as well as some college-specific scholarships that may be up your alley!
Top 14 Aviation Scholarships in December 2022
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:
- The scholarship requires a fee to apply
- The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
- The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
- Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
- The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
- The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
- The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
- There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
- The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
- There is no available contact information
If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
Scholarships360 Exclusive
Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, community college and graduate students.
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Sponsored
Easy scholarship open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
Niche $50,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsored
Open to high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Amelia Earhart Academic Scholarship
Offered by The Ninety-Nines, Inc.
Members of The Ninety-Nines who are pursuing a college degree in aviation or aerospace.
Lyons Aviation Scholarship
Offered by The Lyons Aviation Foundation
Open to aspiring pilots between the ages of 16 and 24 who will be available to complete pilot training within the next 6 months.
“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship
Scholarships360 Exclusive
Open to all postsecondary students, regardless of the type of training/education they are pursuing.
FMA Solo Program
Offered by Flying Musicians Association, Inc.
High school juniors and seniors who have a passion for music and aviation. Applicants must be nominated by their music director/teacher.
ACONE Pilot Training Scholarships
Offered by Aero Club of New England
Open to New England residents with at least 100 hours of flight time who plan to pursue a professional aviation career.
AAAE Scholarship for Native Americans
Offered by University Aviation Association
Open to Native American college upperclassmen and graduate students who are enrolled full-time in aviation/airport management programs.
Bonita Jean Olson Memorial Scholarship
Offered by Women in Aviation International
Open to current WAI members pursuing a STEM major with plans to enter a career in aviation or aerospace.
$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Sponsored
Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school students.
Aviation Exploring Scholarship
Offered by National Aviation Exploring Committee
Open to applicants from 6th grade to 20 years of age who are actively participating in an Aviation Explorer post.
$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
Niche $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
Sponsored
Easy scholarship from Niche open to all high school, college, and graduate students.
How to win aviation scholarships
Like any type of scholarship, aviation scholarships receive a lot of applications, and so it’s important to make yours stand out in order to win one. Two of the best ways to put together a compelling application are to do some research into the organization offering the opportunity, and to read the application materials thoroughly. Try to find the values and principles they are looking for in a candidate, and then emphasize these throughout your application.
Once you have an idea of what to write about, it’s time to focus on fine-tuning your writing. We’ve got guides to help, including how to write a winning scholarship essay, how to write about yourself, and how to tailor your writing to 250 or 500 word limits. We can also walk you through the steps of making a scholarship resume, and give you tutorials on answering some of the most common scholarship prompts.
Finally, don’t forget about local scholarships! Local scholarships have a much lower number of applicants, so you have a higher chance of winning. Try looking at some local community organizations to see if they offer any opportunities.
Top colleges for aviation scholarships
The above private aviation scholarships are an important part of paying for your education. However, savvy students will also identify specific colleges and universities where they can qualify for need-based and merit-based financial aid. We recommend that students use the Net Price Calculator to estimate need-based financial aid.
If you are interested in aviation and aerospace, here are some of the top colleges and universities that you should be considering:
Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana)
- Purdue offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees in their School of Aviation and Transportation.
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (Arizona & Florida)
- Do you want to attend a college that is completely focused on aviation and aerospace? Embry-Riddle offers just that and is the largest such institution in the world.
Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
- Ohio State is home to the Center for Aviation Studies which includes the Ohio State University Airport (which is the third busiest airport in the entire state!)
University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, North Dakota)
- The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at UND provides students with a blend of liberal arts courses and professional aviation education.
Resources for aviation students
Like many fields of study, aviation students can gain a lot from joining student and professional organizations. These organizations can connect them to others in their field, giving them great career advice, networking opportunities, and could even lead to a job or internship. Here are some aviation organizations you may consider joining, and remember to look for more local and regional ones as well:
National Intercollegiate Flying Association
Whether you are looking for a career in aviation or enjoy it as a hobby, this organization will connect you to pilots and aviation enthusiasts all around the country! They offer multiple tiers of memberships, so you can find one that works as a good price point for you.
Alpha Eta Rho
Alpha Eta Rho is an aviation fraternity that connects aviation students across the country. They also offer scholarships, networking opportunities, connections to mentors, and even act as a middleman between colleges and airlines! Don’t miss out on this organization.
National Gay Pilot’s Association
Members of the LGBTQ+ community may find a great network and community in this organization, which unites LGBTQ+ pilots across the country. If you are wondering what it is like to be LGBTQ+ in the aviation field, this is a great place for firsthand information! They also offer a considerable number of scholarships.
Frequently asked questions about aviation scholarships
Do airlines give aviation scholarships?
Many airlines offer scholarships to help future pilots through flight school. One example is Envoy Air’s Future Airline Pilot scholarship. Envoy Air is the company that runs pilot hiring for American Airlines. So, not only will this scholarship help you pay for flight school, but it may help you secure a job with American Airlines after graduation.
Some airlines have been taking steps to become more involved in the training and recruitment process. For example, United Airlines founded the United Aviate Academy in 2020. They have a wide selection of scholarships available, and they automatically strike certain costs for students who go on to fly with them.
Do I need a bachelor’s to get an aviation degree?
In general, airline pilots do not need a college degree. There is no law mandating a pilot’s degree for pilots. However, some airlines may require their pilots to hold a degree, so you’ll have to do research specific to the airlines you are considering.
Becoming a pilot can be a great way to find a well-paying job without putting up the huge sum required to go to college. But it is also true that a lack of a college degree may limit your options for advancement and earning higher pay.
How many hours do I need for a pilot’s license?
The FAA requires that all students earn 1,500 hours to become a pilot. However, you should note that this requirement may vary by airline. While 1,500 hours is the minimum, some airlines may require that you earn more in order to land a job as a pilot.
Is becoming a pilot worth the cost of a degree?
For the most part, being a pilot is well-worth the cost of a degree. If you know that piloting is the career you want, it is a great option, with a 2020 median salary of $130,440 and a lower education cost than most bachelor’s degrees. For example, the 2022 cost for a full education at United Aviate Academy is $71,250, which is a small fraction of full tuition at any four-year institution.
Especially if you supplement that tuition with scholarships, this is extremely affordable considering the high pay of the profession. Just remember – it is an intensive profession that is not for everyone. Before paying the money for a degree, make sure to talk to pilots and get an idea of the lifestyle they live to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Also see: How much student loan debt is too much?
Can I use FAFSA for aviation school?
Some flight schools may use the FAFSA to assess a student’s financial need, but this can vary school-by-school. You might also be able to qualify for the Pell Grant and Stafford loans through the FAFSA. However, this can vary based on the accreditation status of your flight school. Make sure to check with your prospective schools to see whether their students can receive Pell Grant money and federal loans. This could have a substantial effect on the school’s affordability.
