by our College Data Analytics TeamFlight Instructor was the 1,150 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 38 degrees in this year alone. This 11 less than the prior year, a decrease of 28.9%.
Our 2023 Best Flight Instructor Schools ranking analyzes 1 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for flight instructor students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of flight instructor programs later in this article.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Flight Instructor majors are found most commonly in careers in which controlling operations of equipment or systems is important. Required skills include watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific flight instructor careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of flight instructor degrees. You can get anything from a in flight instructor to the highest flight instructor degree, a . The time it takes to complete a flight instructor degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to flight instructor, with approximately 44.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to flight instructor tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 40.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 22.2% |
| High School Diploma | 14.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 11.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 6.2% |
Most workers in flight instructor have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in flight instructor careers have.
This of course varies depending on which flight instructor career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your flight instructor degree? Flight Instructor careers are expected to grow 3.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to flight instructor.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 86,900 | 3.5% |
| Commercial Pilots | 42,300 | 3.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for flight instructor graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for flight instructor graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers flight instructor grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $169,560 |
| Commercial Pilots | $96,530 |
With over 15 different flight instructor degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased flight instructor school rankings to help you with this.
One of 6 majors within the Air Transportation area of study, Flight Instructor has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science & Technology | 5,034 |
| Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew | 2,223 |
| Aviation/Airway Management & Operations | 1,895 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 338 |
| Other Air Transportation | 317 |
