Are you ready for a career in the exciting field of air travel? Are you fascinated by airplane mechanics? Are you ready to take a team to the top? Then look no further. These are hands down the most affordable online degrees in Aeronautics and Aviation.
What kind of online aeronautics/aviation degree should you get?
The concentration you choose should be related to your professional goals. If you want to become a pilot, you should look into a degree in flight operations. If your interests focus more on allied aviation professions, consider a degree in aviation security or aviation management. Be sure to spend time looking at the requirements for a program in aeronautics rather than aviation, as some of these programs target support personnel rather than pilots.
A flight operations degree program prepares students to work as commercial airline pilots. While general education courses can be taken online, obvious hands-on training requirements mean that these types of programs are never 100% online. Some programs may require students to already have a multi-engine pilot's license to enroll.
Aviation management and security degree programs look at the logistical challenges surrounding aviation and aeronautics. These programs supplement a basic understanding of aviation with coursework on business management, airport security, and marketing.
Accredited Online College Programs
Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.
How much money do people make with an online aeronautics/aviation degree?
Aviation graduates often go on to become airline or commercial pilots. These aviators made more than $100,000 per year in 2018. To fly for an airline, one must have a bachelor's degree, but commercial pilots only need a high school diploma and a pilot's license. Aeronautics and aviation graduates can also pursue careers as air traffic controllers, who made nearly $125,000 per year in 2018.
While these jobs pay above average, new positions don't open up often. Both paid pilot positions and air traffic control jobs are expected to grow at a rate of less than 5 percent for the next decade.
What can you do with an online aeronautics/aviation degree?
Those with pilot's licenses and aeronautics/aviation degrees can become commercial pilots or airline pilots. Some of these move on to serve as flight instructors.
- Commercial Pilot:
Commercial pilot is a catch-all title for any pilot who makes money in aviation. They fly for government organizations, corporations, medical services, and other groups. They must have instrument ratings for certain types of operations.
- Airline Pilot:
Pilots with thousands of hours of experience who pass written and practical exams can become airline pilots. Airline pilots also acquire aircraft type ratings, which allow them to fly a wider variety of aircraft on an as-needed basis.
Flight Instructor: Flight instructors use their years of experience in aviation and aeronautics to help train future pilots. They support new pilots as they learn how to operate a variety of aircraft. Flight instructors must have appropriate licenses and ratings for the aircraft on which they teach.
What are the requirements for an online aeronautics/aviation degree?
- Transcripts:
Applicants will need to supply transcripts or other proof of high school graduation, as well as transcripts from any other higher education institutions attended.
- Standardized Test Scores:
While not all schools require these, some schools will request ACT or SAT scores from all applicants.
FAA pilot license: Some programs require students to already have pilot's licenses. Note that programs that do not will still require students to pursue these licenses through face-to-face pilot instruction programs. Depending on the program, students may also need specific certifications or instrument ratings.
What are the best online aeronautics/aviation degrees?
If you're committed to an online aeronautics/aviation degree, use the rankings below to narrow down your selection. Using data taken from U.S. News & World Report and Payscale.com, these rankings show which aeronautics or aviation programs are the best and most affordable.
The rankings use a combination of the school's academic quality, potential return on investment, and satisfaction among its student body. Programs score highly if they have qualified faculty members, affordable tuition compared to salaries in the field, and solid graduation rates.
Take the time to review the admissions criteria for each program, as some will expect students to already have licenses or instrument ratings.
See our rankings methodology page.
