Flight School Options in Texas

Editor’s note: The following article is not intended to be a ranking, but is only to serve as a list of possible options. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary.

Learning to fly is easier than you may think!  Learn how to become a pilot, what the experience of a flight school in Texas will be like, the costs of flight schools in Texas, and what opportunities are available upon graduation. 

Texas has 264 general aviation airports and more than 25,000 general aviation aircrafts registered in the state, which is roughly nine percent of all aircraft in the United States. The opportunities are vast for learning, growing, and ultimately, earning a sizable income, in the aviation industry, in the Lone Star state.

Quicklook: Flight Schools in Texas

• University of North Texas
• Baylor University
• Texas State Technical College
• Texas A&M University-Central Texas 
• LeTourneau University

5 Texas Flight Options School

The top 5 flight schools in Texas are ranked based on several criteria, including tuition costs/financial aid, graduation rates, job placement statistics, accreditations, and average salaries upon entering the workforce. 

Choosing the right flight school will help you reach your goal of becoming a licensed pilot in the aviation industry. 

University of North Texas 

The University of North Texas is a public research university located in Denton, Texas. The school changed names from North Texas State University in 1988. UNT is a collection of 14 colleges across Denton, Frisco, McKinney, and Dallas. 

Their degree program in aviation offers a bachelor’s of science in aviation logistics. 

Location: 1155 Union Cir, Denton, TX 76203

Tuition & Fees: Annual tuition cost is $15,086 after the average amount of grants and scholarships are applied. 

Financial Assistance: Financial aid to assist with tuition, room and board, and additional fees are offered at UNT in the way of — 

• Grants
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• Work Study

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: Bachelor of Science – Aviation Logistics – 4 year program

Endorsements: None

School Size: 40,796 students with an average class size of 26 students per classroom.

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Baylor University 

Baylor University boasts one of the premier aviation colleges in the United States at their Institute of Air Science located in Waco, Texas. 

Offering four-year degree programs focused on pilot certification, aviation sciences, and administration — Baylor also provides a college experience steeped in history and tradition. 

Location: Hankamer Academic Center, 1428 South Fifth Street #040, Waco, TX 76706

Tuition & Fees:

• Average annual tuition – $49,246 
• Average annual room/board/fees – $10, 680
• Average annual cost of flight training – $21,190
• Total estimated annual cost – $81,116 

Financial Assistance: Yes

• Scholarships
• Aviation Specific Scholarships
• Grants
• Student Loans
• Work Study

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

• B.S. Aviation Sciences — Professional Pilot Concentration – 4 years
• B.S. Aviation Administration — Major – 4 years
• B.S. Aviation Sciences — Second Major – 4 years
• A.S. Aviation Sciences — Minor – 2 years

Endorsements: None

School Size: Baylor has a student population of 14,399 students with an average class size of 26 students per classroom. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Texas State Technical College 

TSTC is a public college founded in Waco, Texas in 1965. With ten campuses across the state, TSTC offers technical certifications and associate degrees in various technical skills. They offer associate’s degrees and flight training certifications through their aviation program. 

Location: 3801 Campus Dr, Waco, TX 76705

Tuition & Fees: Annual tuition ranges between $5,580 and $7,731 depending on which associate’s program you choose. 

Financial Assistance: 

• Scholarships
• Grants
• Student Loans
• Work Study

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

A.S. – Aircraft Airframe Technology – 2 years

A.S. – Aircraft Pilot Training Technology – 2 years

A.S. – Aircraft Powerplant Technology – 2 years

A.S. – Avionics Technology – 2 years

Endorsements: None

School Size: TSTC has a student population of 11,919 with an average class size of 15 students per classroom. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Texas A&M University – Central Texas  

A more recent member of the Texas A&M University system, TAMU-CT is a public university located in Killeen, Texas offering a bachelor’s of science in aviation management and a bachelor’s of science with a professional pilot emphasis. 

TAMUCT is an upper university, that requires students to have completed their core basics at a 2-year college prior to beginning the aviation degree program.

Location: 1001 Leadership Pl, Killeen, TX 76549

Tuition & Fees: 

• Average annual tuition- $3,121
• Average annual room/board – $4,719
• Average annual supplies/fees – $1,085
• Personal/Transportation – $1,661
• Total estimated annual cost – $10,586 

Financial Assistance: 

• Scholarships
• Grants
• Student Loans
• Work Study
• Military Advantage Program

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

• B.S. Aviation Management – 2 years
• B.S. Professional Pilot – 2 years

Endorsements: None

School Size: Texas A&m University-Central Texas has a student population of 3,470 with an average class size of 19 students per classroom. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

LeTourneau University 

LeTourneau University is a private university of Christian affiliation that sits in Longview, Texas. Specializing in degree programs in business, healthcare, and other trades. 

Their aviation program offers bachelor’s degrees and associate’s degrees in aviation management, maintenance, and security. 

Location: 2100 S Mobberly Ave, Longview, TX 75602

Tuition & Fees: 

Annual Tuition and fees before avg aid amount – $45,556

Annual Tuition and fees after avg aid applied – $22,105

Financial Assistance: (Aid averages $18,974 per student.)

• Scholarships
• Grants
• Student Loans
• Work Study

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

B.S. Aviation Management – 4 years

A.S. Aviation Management – 2 years

B.S. Unmanned Aircraft Systems – 4 years

A.S. Unmanned Aircraft Systems – 2 years

A.S. Aviation Security – 2 years

A.S. Aviation Maintenance – 2 years

A.S. Aircraft Dispatch – 2 years

Endorsements: None

School Size: LeTourneau University has a student population of 1,771 with an average class size of 15 students per classroom. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

How Does Flight School Training in Texas Work?

A pilot’s license is the certification required for anyone to legally fly an aircraft in the state of Texas or anywhere in the U.S., for that matter. There are many types of pilot’s licenses, beginning with a student pilot’s license and ranging up to a commercial airline transport pilot’s license. 

Opportunities for flying larger aircraft and earning a larger income depend upon the level of license pursued, as does the cost of flight school to obtain said license. The requirements vary for each level of licensing, in terms of the flight hours, classroom hours, and testing required to become certified as a licensed pilot at each level. 

A basic commercial pilot has opportunities to fly cargo missions for numerous organizations, whereas an airline transport pilot can fly passenger planes for major airlines and military outfits, earning a much higher annual salary. 

In the state of Texas, the average commercial pilot earns $ 106,040 per year and there were 4,160 commercial pilots employed in Texas as of May 2020, whereas Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earned an average of $194,100 per year across 9,860 jobs — according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics  

Texas Flight School Facts & Figures

The process of choosing a flight school, the associated costs, financial aid availability, and the requirements to earn your desired pilot’s license are all necessary areas to navigate as you choose the flight school that best fits your aviation goals. 

You can then begin working towards obtaining your desired license and eventually maximizing your earning potential as a professional commercial pilot. 

Number of Schools

Texas flight schools total 81 and are spread across the state with clusters of schools located in the Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio areas. Texas also has 13 aviation colleges throughout the state for those pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in aviation studies. 

Number of Students per Class

The average number of students expected per (ground) classroom is 21 students, at flight schools in Texas. Flight instruction is conducted on a 1:1 ratio — (1) Certified Flight Instructor per (1) student pilot. 

Tuition Rates

The cost of obtaining a professional pilot’s license can vary considerably depending on the chosen flight school, type of aircraft, training materials, and number of flight training/classroom hours logged. The average tuition per student — including all aviation programs and flight schools in Texas — is approximately $12,400 per year. 

Average Loan Amount

The average cost of a four year private university in Texas is $32,410, annually, however, obtaining a commercial pilot’s license can run as high as $70,000 per year. In addition to private loans, specific aviation education lenders provide options for financing, as well. 

Schools must be accredited for acceptance of FAFSA funding, which are typically only four-year aviation colleges, not small flight schools. The average loan amount per student, after grants and scholarships, for schools in Texas is $31,367 per student. 

When accounting for the additional costs of pilot training, the number can vary increasingly, depending upon the level of aviation degree and/or license obtained. 

Scholarship

Scholarships are awarded to student pilots at flight schools in Texas in the range of $1,000 – $12,000, with an average of approximately $3,500 per student, annually. 

Job Placement

The top flight schools in Texas have commercial partnerships in place which help to align new pilots with career opportunities in the field of aviation upon graduation. Job placement, flight hour opportunity, and total costs are weighted heavily when ranking top flight schools in Texas. 

Texas Pilot Employment Facts & Figures

The completion of your pilot training and graduation from your chosen flight school leads to the obvious next step of gainful employment as a commercial pilot. Texas has one of the largest sectors of aviation employment opportunities in the U.S. Both civilian and military positions, employing nearly 150,000 people in the aviation industry, are why Texas is ranked #1 in the U.S. for air transportation employment. 

Employment 

Texas employed 4,610 commercial pilots in 2020 at an annual average salary of $106,040. In addition, 9,860 airline pilots, co-pilots, and flight engineers were employed at an average salary of $194,100 per year.

Biggest Employers in Texas	Average Salary in Texas	Full or Part Time Pilots across the U.S.
DroneHive, Inc.	$166,022	1,200
U.S. Dept. of the Navy	$153,614	7,000
United Airlines	$144,437	12,500
Skywest Airlines	$139,378	1,400
U.S. Dept. of Transportation	$126,786	5,000

Salary

The average salary for a commercial pilot in Texas is $138,001 per year — which comes out to $11,500 per month, or $2,654 per week.

Texas Pilots In High Demand!

Now that you have a clear understanding of the process, costs, and time commitment required to become a commercial pilot at the best flight schools in Texas, you can now choose your specific path to becoming a professional pilot. There is a major shortage of pilots in North America, which creates numerous job opportunities for future pilots in the upcoming decade. 

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