Colorado hosts 6 of the flight schools featured in our nationwide flight schools guide.
The list below covers everything from four-year aviation universities and independent flight schools to federally approved academies.
Among our list of the top 6 Colorado flight schools, 4 hold Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 141 certifications. This means their curriculum is FAA-approved and they require fewer flight hours for the commercial certificate.
All Flight Schools in Colorado
Aims Community College, School of Aviation
Loveland, CO
Best for: Students wanting one of the most affordable AAS aviation programs in Colorado with a 70% airline placement rate and Piper Flight School Alliance membership
Aims Community College, School of Aviation is a two-year aviation college based in Loveland, CO, certified under FAA Part 141. Worth knowing: 70% of pilot graduates go to airlines. 30% to General Aviation.
- Tuition & fees
- Aims in-district tuition + fees: $2,760/yr (vs. ~$13,180 average for Colorado 4-year schools). Single-engine rental ~$149/hr; multi-engine ~$170/hr; CFI rate $46/hr+ minimum.
- Program length
- 2-year AAS. First-semester solo flight typical.
- Fleet
- 13 fixed-wing aircraft (none older than 2017): 10 Piper Archers, 2 Piper Seminoles (multi-engine), 1 Super Decathlon. State-of-the-art simulators that match the fleet. Helicopter training also offered.
- Airline partnerships
- Piper Flight School Alliance member. R-ATP eligible at 1,250 hrs.
- Job placement
- 70% to airlines; 30% to GA, strong placement rate.
- Online options
- Limited, primary delivery in-person.
Front Range Community College, Aviation
Westminster, CO
Best for: Students wanting affordable Colorado community-college aviation training with Boulder/Longmont proximity
Based in Westminster, CO, Front Range Community College, Aviation is a two-year aviation college, certified under FAA Part 141. Worth knowing: Major Front Range AMT training program.
- Tuition & fees
- Colorado community college rates.
- Program length
- 2-year AAS.
- Fleet
- Maintenance training equipment.
- Airline partnerships
- Denver-area aerospace pipelines.
- Online options
- Some online components.
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences
Denver, CO
Best for: Students wanting an AABI program in metro Denver with United Aviate access and high-altitude mountain flying experience
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences is a four-year aviation university based in Denver, CO, certified under FAA Part 141 and accredited by AABI. Worth knowing: Prominent program in the Rocky Mountain region.
- Tuition & fees
- Public Colorado rates apply (in-state ~$8,000–$10,000/yr; out-of-state ~$22,000–$24,000/yr, verify current). Flight fees additional and substantial, high-altitude operations affect costs.
- Program length
- 4-year B.S.
- Fleet
- Specific fleet composition and counts not consistently published in indexed sources, verify with school.
- Airline partnerships
- United Aviate; partnerships with regional carriers and Denver-based corporate aviation.
- Online options
- Limited, primary delivery in-person.
Mountain Air Aviation
Front Range, CO
Best for: Students wanting mountain flying training in the Rockies
Based in Front Range, CO, Mountain Air Aviation is an independent flight academy. Worth knowing: Mountain flying specialty.
- Tuition & fees
- Variable.
- Program length
- Variable, typically a 10-20 hour mountain endorsement.
- Fleet
- Cessna 182, 206, light tailwheel.
- Airline partnerships
- Tour, utility pipelines.
- Job placement
- N/A, specialty.
- Online options
- Limited.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield
Englewood, CO
Best for: Students wanting Spartan's AMT/AET training in metro Denver next to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield is an aviation college based in Englewood, CO, certified under FAA Part 141 and accredited by ACCSC. Equipment includes 80+ powerplants including two Rolls Royce RB 211-22B turbine engines, IFR6000 test equipment, ADSB test system.
- Tuition & fees
- Tuition varies by program. Verify current with Spartan admissions.
- Program length
- AMT/AET diploma 12–18 months; AAS under 2 years.
- Fleet
- Maintenance training fleet (not pilot training): 3 Cessna 172s, Cessna 152, LearJet 24, Falcon 20, Beech C-35 Bonanza. 80+ powerplants including 2 Rolls Royce RB 211-22B turbines.
- Airline partnerships
- Industry pipeline for maintenance graduates.
- Job placement
- Spartan Career Services supports graduates.
- Online options
- Yes, online BS Technology Management.
United States Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO
Best for: Students seeking a service academy commission as a USAF/Space Force officer with airmanship coursework that prepares for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT)
Based in Colorado Springs, CO, United States Air Force Academy is a military aviation academy, accredited by Federal. Notable as the nation's premier service academy for the Air Force / Space Force.
- Tuition & fees
- No tuition. Cadets receive a Department of Defense scholarship covering all educational costs. In return, graduates serve as commissioned USAF/Space Force officers (typically 5+ years active duty for non-pilots; longer for pilot training graduates).
- Program length
- 4-year B.S. + 5-year minimum active-duty service commitment (longer for pilot training grads).
- Fleet
- T-53 (powered glider) for Airmanship 302 solo. Sailplanes for Soaring. Diamond DA-20 (used in Initial Flight Training at Pueblo Memorial Airport via 306 FTG). Cadet Aviation Club aircraft.
- Airline partnerships
- Direct military career path. Cadets do NOT earn USAF pilot wings at the Academy, those are awarded post-graduation at SUPT (~52 weeks at Vance AFB OK, Columbus AFB MS, Laughlin AFB TX, Sheppard AFB TX, or NAS Whiting Field FL).
- Job placement
- 100% commission rate as USAF/Space Force officer upon graduation (assuming successful completion).
- Online options
- Limited, service academy is residential.
How Much Is Aviation School in Colorado?
Not every school in Colorado publishes their tuition publicly, and reported figures vary widely depending on whether the school lists annual tuition, total program cost, or full cost of attendance. Four-year university programs run around $40,000. Below are the schools with figures we could verify.
| School | Reported cost |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences | ~$10,000/yr |
How Long Is Pilot School in Colorado?
Pilot school in Colorado can take as long as 4 years at a degree program like Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences, or as little as 2 years at an accelerated academy like Aims Community College, School of Aviation. Not every school publishes a specific timeline. The schools below are the ones that do.
| School | Program length |
|---|---|
| Aims Community College, School of Aviation | 2 years |
| Front Range Community College, Aviation | 2 years |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences | 4 years |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield | 2 years |
| United States Air Force Academy | 4 years |
How to Choose a Flight School in Colorado
Choosing a flight school in Colorado comes down to matching the program to your goal (airline pilot, corporate, helicopter, instructor) and your timeline. Use the considerations below to narrow the list.
- Decide between a degree and an accelerated certificate. Four-year aviation universities (like Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield) pair flight training with a bachelor’s degree but take longer and cost more. Accelerated academies (like Mountain Air Aviation) skip the degree and aim to get you to the airlines in 9 to 18 months.
- Confirm FAA Part 141 vs. Part 61. Part 141 schools follow an FAA-approved structured syllabus, which lets you finish the commercial certificate in fewer hours. Part 61 schools are more flexible but require more total flight time. Most Colorado schools profiled here (including Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield) hold Part 141 certification.
- Check for airline pathway access. If you’re aiming straight at a commercial airline job, look for schools with formal partnerships (such as Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences). These programs typically include a conditional job offer or interview guarantee once you hit hours and ratings benchmarks.
- Confirm financial aid eligibility. 4 of the 6 Colorado schools below participate in federal financial aid programs, which matters because flight training is one of the most expensive vocational paths in the country. VA benefits, scholarships, and tuition rebates can offset substantial portions of cost.
- Visit the campus or do a discovery flight. Tuition, fleet size, and partnerships are easy to compare on paper, but program culture, instructor quality, and weather-driven flight cancellations are not. A campus visit and a short intro flight are the fastest way to read a school before you commit to a multi-year investment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flight Schools in Colorado
Why choose a flight school in Colorado?
Choosing a flight school in Colorado gives student pilots access to high-altitude airport experience that prepares pilots for mountain operations.
Do any aviation schools in Colorado offer job placement?
Yes, several flight schools in Colorado publish job-placement data, including Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield, United States Air Force Academy, and Aims Community College, School of Aviation. Not every school in the list below publishes placement rates. Ask each program directly when you compare.
What if a school doesn't offer FAA Part 141?
If a school doesn’t offer FAA Part 141, it most likely operates under Part 61. Part 141 schools follow an FAA-audited syllabus and let students earn the commercial certificate in fewer total flight hours (typically 190 hours versus 250 hours under Part 61). Part 61 schools are more flexible and often cheaper hour-for-hour, but they require more total time to reach the same ratings. In Colorado, most schools below operate under Part 141. United States Air Force Academy and Mountain Air Aviation are listed as Part 61 only or unverified, so confirm certification with the school before enrolling.
Is financial aid available for Colorado aviation programs?
Yes, financial aid is available for Colorado aviation programs. 4 of the 6 schools profiled here participate in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), and many also offer institutional scholarships, VA / GI Bill benefits, or partner financing through Sallie Mae or similar lenders. Examples include Metropolitan State University of Denver, Department of Aviation and Aerospace Sciences, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield, and Front Range Community College, Aviation. Aid eligibility varies by program type. Community college and university degrees usually qualify, while standalone Part 141 academies are case-by-case.
Do any Colorado flight schools offer online or distance learning?
Yes, some Colorado flight schools offer online ground school and academic coursework, though flight training itself is always in-person. Schools that publish online options include Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver / Broomfield and Front Range Community College, Aviation. If you’re balancing work or family commitments, asking about online ground school and weekend flight blocks is a useful filter.
