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Flight school can be costly, especially if your program doesn’t qualify for federal aid. But don’t let the sticker price deter you. If your dream is to become a pilot, you have options to pay for flight school beyond traditional student loans.
Loan amount | APR | Term | Eligibility requirements | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Federal Direct Subsidized Loans | $3,500 to $6,500 per year — depending on what year you are in school |
| Up to 25 years | Undergraduate student, enrolled at least half time at a Title IV school, demonstrate financial need, meet otherfederal student aid eligibility requirements | |
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans |
|
| Up to 25 years | Undergraduate, graduate or professional student; enrolled at least half time at a Title IV school; meet other federal student aid eligibility requirements | |
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans | Up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance |
| Up to 25 years | Graduate or professional student, enrolled at least half time at a Title IV school, no adverse credit history, meet other federal student aid eligibility requirements | |
Wells Fargo | Up to $120,000 |
| Varies | Good to excellent credit or creditworthy cosigner, ages 18+, US citizen or permanent resident | |
Sallie Mae | $1,000 to $200,000 |
| Varies | You may be eligible if you are at least 18 years old and if you are US citizen or permanent resident |
In addition to these loan options, some lenders offer financing specifically for pilot training. AOPA Aviation Finance and We Florida Financial Credit Union both provide financing to help you earn your pilot’s license.
Yes, but only if you’re attending an accredited flight school, like the National Aviation Academy. Most flight schools aren’t accredited, however.
When you’re ready to apply for aid, make sure you have information about yourself and your finances on hand to make the application process a little easier. Then follow these steps:
Keep these three factors in mind when you’re comparing loans for flight school:
Weigh the benefits and drawbacks before deciding if flight school is right for you:
Beyond student and personal loans, here are three other ways you can reduce the amount you pay toward flight school:
Ready to turn your dream of becoming a pilot into a reality? You might want to start by looking into scholarships offered by different aviation organizations to reduce how much you need to borrow. Then you can pick up the slack by taking out a student loan or personal loan from a private lender.
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