Auburn University Aviation

Located in Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University offers two aviation bachelor’s degree paths. One is aimed toward flight while the other deals with management. The school also offers a drone certification program. 

Auburn’s aviation programs are rooted in a liberal arts degree to provide a well-rounded education.

Program Highlights

Auburn University is a FAA-approved Part 141 pilot school and flight operations are conducted at the Auburn University Regional Airport (KAUO), a five-minute drive from the main campus. Auburn does provide a shuttle service to the airport for students who need it. 

Programs offered include:

• Bachelor of Science
  • Aviation Flight
  • Aviation Management 
  • Drone Certification

Aviation Flight and Aviation Management are also offered as minors.

The school has partnerships with multiple airlines, which can help provide a well-defined path to an industry career. Some of those connections include:

• Delta’s Propel Collegiate Pilot Career Path Program
• Endeavor Air’s STEP Program
• Envoy Air’s Cadet Program

The Professional Flight degree is accredited by Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI).

The school is part of Region 9 of the National intercollegiate Flying Association.

Value

Auburn’s tuition is competitive for the size of school and the facilities they provide. For in-state students, base tuition is just under $6,000. For out-of-state students, it will hover around $15,000. In-state waivers can be gained for out-of-state students.  

On top of base tuition, flight students will have additional costs for their flight courses. Over the course of four years, before financial aid or scholarships, flight costs will come in around $115,000 for all necessary licenses to be a professional pilot. 

Auburn offers scholarships to help mitigate the cost of tuition and flight, including the:

• Aviation Management Advisory Board Endowed Scholarship
• Beech Aircraft Foundation Endowed Scholarship
• Bessie Coleman Annual Scholarship

It also accepts veteran’s benefits such as the GI Bill.

Fleet and Facilities

The fleet of aircraft at Auburn includes:

• Cessna 172s
• Piper Seminoles

Auburn also houses advanced aviation training devices (AATDs), including: 

• Precision Flight Controls DCX Max Flight simulators
• A Frasca Mentor flight simulator
• A Flight Deck Solutions A320 Advanced Fixed Based Procedure Trainer

Graduates from Auburn’s Part 141 flight training program are eligible for the restricted ATP of 1,000 hours. 

Campus life

Auburn is quite a large school, which means it has plenty of traditional experiences. Being a D1 athletic school, Auburn offers plenty of sporting events that students can attend, including the long-lived rivalry games between Auburn and Alabama. 

A fun tradition at Auburn is the yearly “Hey-Day,” where students wear name tags and say “hi” to everyone they pass on campus. 

Students can take part in any of the 550 university clubs and organizations to boost their resumes or meet new people. Some of the available organizations include:

• Student Government Association
• University Program Council
• Black Student Union

Greek life is also very big at Auburn. The school is home to 52 different chapters of sororities and fraternities. 

The Bottom Line

Auburn University has a storied history with many organizations, traditions, and activities that students can take part in. The addition of the aviation programs makes Auburn an ideal place for a potential student who is looking for an all-encompassing liberal arts degree to jump start their career in the aviation industry.