Airline transport pilot education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an airline transport pilot. Airline transport pilots usually study aviation, aerospace engineering, or computer science. 67% of airline transport pilots hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 69 real airline transport pilot resumes to see exactly what airline transport pilot education sections show.

The most common colleges for airline transport pilots are the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach and the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach.

There are also many online airline transport pilot courses to help get the education required to be an airline transport pilot.

What education do you need to become an airline transport pilot?

What degree do you need to be an airline transport pilot?

The most common degree for airline transport pilots is bachelor's degree, with 67% of airline transport pilots earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 8%.

Bachelor's, 67%

Associate, 21%

Master's, 8%

Doctorate, 5%

What should I major in to become an airline transport pilot?

You should major in aviation to become an airline transport pilot. 32% of airline transport pilots major in aviation. Other common majors for an airline transport pilot include aerospace engineering and computer science.

Aviation, 32%

Aerospace Engineering, 17%

Computer Science, 9%

Psychology, 4%

Other Majors, 38%

Most common colleges for airline transport pilots

Airline transport pilots often get their degrees at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach, Ohio State University, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Here are the most common colleges for airline transport pilots in the US based on their resumes.

Airline transport pilot common college	Percentages
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach	12.50%
Ohio State University	8.33%
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey	8.33%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale	4.17%
Temple University	4.17%

Show more common airline transport pilot colleges

Best majors for airline transport pilots

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Aviation	31.9%
2	Aerospace Engineering	17.0%
3	Computer Science	8.5%
4	Psychology	4.3%
5	Business	4.3%

Show more common airline transport pilot majors

Best colleges for airline transport pilots

The best colleges for airline transport pilots are Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Washington University in St Louis.

An airline transport pilot with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for airline transport pilots. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become airline transport pilots.

1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

2. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

3. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

4. San Jose State University

San Jose, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,796

Enrollment

27,125

5. Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$43,884

Enrollment

6,917

6. Worldwide Campus

Daytona Beach, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$9,360

Enrollment

10,254

7. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$35,814

Enrollment

5,925

8. Prescott Campus

Prescott, AZ • Private

In-state tuition

$35,654

Enrollment

2,712

9. University of Oklahoma

Norman, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$11,538

Enrollment

21,675

10. Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$9,019

Enrollment

20,323

20 best online courses for airline transport pilots

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Top 10 most affordable universities for airline transport pilots

The most affordable schools for airline transport pilots are SUNY Farmingdale, purdue university, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.

If the best universities for airline transport pilots are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for airline transport pilots.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

4. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla

Aguadilla, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,284

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. San Jose State University

San Jose, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,796

Cost of attendance

24,514

7. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

8. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

9. Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Durant, OK • Private

In-state tuition

$6,750

Cost of attendance

15,839

10. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for airline transport pilots

The hardest universities for airline transport pilots to get into are Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Washington University in St Louis.

Some great schools for airline transport pilots are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for airline transport pilots based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,566

6. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,309

8. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,443

9. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

Admissions rate

18%

SAT average

1,502

10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,545

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for airline transport pilots

The easiest schools for airline transport pilots to get into are Capitol Technology University, bridgewater state university, and saint cloud state university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an airline transport pilot without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for airline transport pilots.

1. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

2. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,073

3. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

4. Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Durant, OK • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

1,065

5. Westminster College

Salt Lake City, UT • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,185

6. Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,107

7. Salem State University

Salem, MA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,065

8. San Jose State University

San Jose, CA • Private

Admissions rate

55%

SAT average

1,143

9. Averett University

Danville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

61%

SAT average

953

10. University of Oklahoma

Norman, OK • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,249

Average airline transport pilot salary by education level

According to our data, airline transport pilots with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $98,390 annually. Airline transport pilots with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $96,137.

Airline transport pilot education level	Airline transport pilot salary
Master's Degree	$98,390
Bachelor's Degree	$96,137

Airline transport pilot education FAQs

What is the best college for Airline Transport Pilots?

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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