Scholarships in aviation studies can come from various entities, including universities with flight training programs, local businesses, non-profit organizations, and aviation groups. Government entities like the Federal Aviation Administration also offer awards and grants. These scholarships help cover the costs of flight school and pilot training. Some are tailored to degrees related to aviation careers, such as aircraft maintenance, airport management, and avionics.
Eligibility for Aviation Scholarships
Eligibility criteria often depend on the scholarship provider. Organizational scholarships may require membership, while others might need proof of employment in business aviation roles like pilots, maintenance staff, schedulers, dispatchers, flight attendants, and flight technicians. Many scholarships target high school and college students pursuing degrees in aviation maintenance, aeronautical science, aerospace engineering, air traffic management, and aviation business administration. Academic performance standards are generally expected, and applicants might also need to demonstrate financial need and clearly articulated goals in an essay.
Popularity of Aviation Scholarships
Aviation scholarships are popular because they help aspiring pilots manage the substantial costs associated with aviation education. To become an airline pilot, a bachelor’s degree, a commercial pilot’s license, and an FAA ATP certificate are typically required. Scholarships and grants ease the financial burden of tuition, books, and flight training, which can cost significantly. Despite high upfront costs, the aviation industry is growing, with a 4% job increase projected by 2026, and pilots often earn substantial salaries, with an average annual income of $140,340 for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers.
Specific Scholarships in Aviation Studies
The following are scholarships in aviation studies, including their benefits:
Averett University Aviation Scholarship
- Amount: $10,000
- Eligibility: Students at Averett University, Danville, Virginia.
- Application Requirements: None specified.
John R. Sandberg Memorial Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: U.S. residents pursuing aviation-related careers or active in their local aviation community.
- Application Requirements: Application form, personal statement, two recommendations.
Robert Wilkos Aviation Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to education and the private aviation industry.
- Application Requirements: None specified.
Reno High Sierra Chapter Ninety-Nines Private Pilot License Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000
- Eligibility: Female student aviators who have completed a solo flight.
- Application Requirements: Application form, student pilot and medical certificates, logbook endorsement, nine essays.
Michael Blume Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Eligibility: U.S. students in four-year colleges or universities aiming for a degree in aviation, particularly from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin.
- Application Requirements: EAA membership, application form, personal statement, recommendation letter.
LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation Flight Training Scholarship
- Amount: $9,000
- Eligibility: U.S. students aged 16-23 aspiring to become professional pilots.
- Application Requirements: Application form, two recommendation letters, three essays, official transcript, FAA third-class medical certificate.
AOPA Advanced Rating Scholarship
- Amount: $3,000 – $10,000
- Eligibility: AOPA members who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents pursuing advanced ratings or certifications.
- Application Requirements: Recommendation letter, application form, copy of Pilot License.
Joshua Esch Mitchell Aviation Scholarship
- Amount: $500 – $5,000
- Eligibility: Undergraduate students from Kent County, Michigan, with a valid pilot’s license and a minimum GPA of 2.75.
- Application Requirements: Application form, personal statement, recommendation letter, transcripts, financial statement, pilot’s certificate.
Dan L. Meisinger, Sr. Memorial Learn to Fly Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Eligibility: College sophomores, juniors, and seniors in aviation programs with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; preference for residents of Kansas, Missouri, or Illinois.
- Application Requirements: Application form, personal statement, recommendation letter, and aviation professional endorsement.