Fixed wing pilot education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a fixed wing pilot. Fixed wing pilots usually study aviation, electrical engineering, or aerospace engineering. 68% of fixed wing pilots hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 64 real fixed wing pilot resumes to see exactly what fixed wing pilot education sections show.

The most common colleges for fixed wing pilots are the University of Utah and the University of Utah.

There are also many online fixed wing pilot courses to help get the education required to be a fixed wing pilot.

What education do you need to become a fixed wing pilot?

What degree do you need to be a fixed wing pilot?

The most common degree for fixed wing pilots is bachelor's degree, with 68% of fixed wing pilots earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 11% and master's degree degree at 11%.

Bachelor's, 68%

Master's, 11%

Associate, 11%

Doctorate, 8%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a fixed wing pilot?

You should major in aviation to become a fixed wing pilot. 24% of fixed wing pilots major in aviation. Other common majors for a fixed wing pilot include electrical engineering and aerospace engineering.

Aviation, 24%

Electrical Engineering, 11%

Aerospace Engineering, 8%

Biology, 5%

Other Majors, 52%

Most common colleges for fixed wing pilots

Fixed wing pilots often get their degrees at University of Utah, University of Florida, and Dickinson State University. Here are the most common colleges for fixed wing pilots in the US based on their resumes.

Fixed wing pilot common college	Percentages
University of Utah	9.52%
University of Florida	4.76%
Dickinson State University	4.76%
University of California - Davis	4.76%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	4.76%

Show more common fixed wing pilot colleges

Best majors for fixed wing pilots

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Aviation	23.7%
2	Electrical Engineering	10.5%
3	Aerospace Engineering	7.9%
4	Biology	5.3%
5	Business	5.3%

Show more common fixed wing pilot majors

Best colleges for fixed wing pilots

The best colleges for fixed wing pilots are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A fixed wing 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 fixed wing 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 fixed wing pilots.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

8. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$52,930

Enrollment

5,030

20 best online courses for fixed wing pilots

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Top 10 most affordable universities for fixed wing pilots

The most affordable schools for fixed wing pilots are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and university of florida.

If the best universities for fixed wing 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 fixed wing pilots.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for fixed wing pilots

The hardest universities for fixed wing pilots to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for fixed wing 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 fixed wing 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

5. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

7. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for fixed wing pilots

The easiest schools for fixed wing pilots to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, oregon institute of technology, and la roche college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a fixed wing 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 fixed wing pilots.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

3. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

4. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,089

5. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

8. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

9. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,072

10. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

Average fixed wing pilot salary by education level

According to our data, fixed wing pilots with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $106,650 annually. Fixed wing pilots with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $103,925.

Fixed wing pilot education level	Fixed wing pilot salary
Master's Degree	$106,650
Bachelor's Degree	$103,925

Fixed wing pilot education FAQs

What is the best college for Fixed Wing 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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