You should also read my other post 101 General Aviation and Flight Training Scholarships. Besides the scholarships, there are many other financing options available for flight training courses. In this post we will review the financial aid or financial assistance available through the US Federal Government.
The U.S. Federal government provides certain programs to help students fund the cost of their education at a college, university, professional, technical, or a vocational school. There are various federal programs available for students who are enrolled at least half time in a college degree program, and maintaining satisfactory academic progress, and not in default on a previous grant or loan. Financial aid offered from the federal government is based on individual financial needs and situations.
If you desire to receive financial assistance from the federal government, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application is utilized by the U.S. Department of Education to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and eligibility for available federal aid programs.
The available federal programs include the following:
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a grant that does not have to be re-paid. This grant is available for undergraduate students currently enrolled at least half time and is based on financial needs. The grant amounts range from $400 to $4,050 depending upon the estimated family contribution.
Federal Perkins Loan
The Federal Perkins loan is awarded to under-graduate and graduate students enrolled at least half time and is based on exceptional financial needs. This is a loan and must be re-paid. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as this program has limited funding availability.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
FSEOG is available for under-graduate students enrolled at least half time and is based on financial needs. Assistance offered varies in each individual case. Awards range from $100 to $4,000 per year.
Federal College Work-Study Program (CWSP)
CWSP is available for graduate or under-graduate students enrolled at least half-time and is based on needs. Students can work a maximum of 20 – 25 hours per week against at least the minimum wages.
Federal Supplemental Loan for Students (SLS)
SLS is available for graduate and independent under-graduate students enrolled at least half time. Loan amount available: $4,000 a year for the first and second years of under-graduate studies; $5,000 for the third and fourth years of studies provided the student attends a full academic year. Total funds available: $23,000 for under-graduates; $73,000 for graduate/professional students (including undergraduate amounts).
Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
PLUS is available for parents of dependent students and allows parents to borrow money to assist their children pay for the college tuition fee. The student must be enrolled at least half time. Parent loans are not based on financial needs. The amount borrowed each year can be up to the college tuition fee less any other financial aid received. The parent(s) can obtain the application from any participating lending institution or the Financial Aid Office of the school. There is no limit on the cumulative maximum totals of the loan. However, deferred payments are not possible, and loan re-payment starts two months after the loan is fully disbursed.
Federal Stafford Loan Program (subsidized and un-subsidized)
All Federal Direct Stafford Loans are either subsidized (the government pays the interest while you’re in school) or un-subsidized (borrower pays all the interest; however, the payments can be deferred until after graduation). Stafford Loans are available to under-graduate and graduate students enrolled at least half time and in good standing and is based on financial needs. Maximum loans available are: $2,625 for freshmen, $3,500 for sophomores, $5,500 for juniors and seniors, and $8,500 for graduate or professional students, but not to exceed $23,000 for under-graduates or $65,500 for under-graduate and graduate loans combined. You can obtain an application from any participating lending institution or the Financial Aid Office of the school.
The Student Guide is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. This guide provides the detailed information about: student eligibility, financial needs, dependency status, application, special circumstances, withdrawals, deadlines, types of Student Federal Aid, borrower responsibilities, and rights, important terms, phone numbers and web site addresses etc. This publication is updated each year. The Student Guide is available in English and Spanish, an can be downloaded from the U.S Department of Education’s web site.
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Alena
http://grantsforeducation.info
Receiving federal funding for flight training is a little more complicated than you make it out to be. Your school must be listed on the FAFSA site to receive any funding for it…
You are right about the school has to be listed on the FAFSA’a site. So pick one out of the list of schools. What is so hard about this?
The only flight schools that have any federal funding available to students are those that are in combination with a college (ie: ERAU, UVU, UND, etc.) The local flight schools, where you want to train at, don’t fall under this. It’s great if you want to pursue a 4 year degree but for those that just want to fly, there are very few options. Otherwise, great write up for sure!
Dear Amanda, you are right about this…the Federal money is available ONLY if the student is also enrolled in a degree program as well. Now, the degree program can be a 2 year AS/AAS as well, and does not have to be a 4 year one. And the student DOES NOT have to complete the program either, and you can drop out any time. But, keep in mind, if the goal is an airline pilot job, then it may not be a bad idea to get at least a 2 year aviation related degree. And I would recommend ERAU over the others that you mentioned. And I will write a post later on to explain my reasoning. Thanks for a great contribution towards helping others.
By the Amanda, if you want to learn at a certain flight school (locally), all you need to do is tell so to the UVU (formerly UVSC) or ERAU people, and they will "approve" your flight training at your local flight school. UVU puts a lot of restrictions though, like you can only receive so much flight training per semester (to reduce early dropouts upon completion of flight training), and ERAU is much more flexible with it. This is something that they do not advertise, but is available. Good luck and happy new year.
[...] anyway. You never know, they might say, “Yes!” Furthermore, do a little research into federally funded flight training programs. Again, these are programs that will pay you to fly and get your ratings and you don’t have [...]
I would like to train as a pilot but I lack enough funds. Please help me out I am a Kenyan. I have always wanted to be a pilot.
Cough Cough.. Delta Connection Academy has been accepting FAFSA loans for a long time.. The are currently re-applying due to change in ownership but should have it back soon and the are strictly flight training at their Sanford Florida campus.. I plan to join them soon to finish my higher ratings as I am already PVT/INST COM G-CFI
I cannot recommend ERAU, particularly one of the “professional pilot” programs. At over $200,000 for 4 years of tuition, room & board and flight training fees, you cannot get more than about half of that in undergraduate tuition assistance. I also happen to have graduated from there and my degree hasn’t given me any edge at all over the competetion and their training turns out to have been no better than anywhere else. Overpriced and over-inflated reputation. Be smart and save your money,
UVU is a horrible avenue to approach. They havefigured out how to use exatly the amount you willrecieve in a Pell grant for tuition. That leaves the flight funding up to you through the federal loans, which, by the way, are loans you get on your own from a bank and the fed guarantees it. I was required to enroll in classes before they would tell me anything as far as how much of my Pel they would require and how much ‘other’ federal assistance would be allowed. After figuring out that it was not a smart financial decision, i dropped all of my classes, 2 weeks before the semester started. That was two years ago and they are still trying to bill me for some of those dropped classes.
I would like to inform you the USA has displayed my life because I am a refugee living there in Dadaab especially Hagadera Refugee camp and I was inspired by giving an opportunity (resettlement) in 2006 but unfortunately it actually destroyed my future where all my peers had graduated studying. not only me but we were disappointed from education and even life why because our group mate were being taken to the state but for us we were left behind i don’t know why?, however, my father has being killed within the refugee camp and we are orphan children with only mum, I don’t know whether our resettlement will be renewed or not but we were event told to do DNA TEST whereby we have successfully done that but no further reference.
hope to see my answer in my above email address.
All i want to do at this time is FLY…and i mean Pilot to Commercial Pilot. I have 2 kids in school …soon 1 going to college and have no FUND to invest in myself privately to become Pilot. I am looking for Goverment/Fed/State …some type of Grant that will help me persue my GOAL. This is something i want to do to prove myself that Dream is possible to accomplish. Please do not let my age play factor because if there is willingness to do…there is always a way. If you or anyone has any suggestion … please advice.
Investment of U.S. Federal government is realy very appreciable.Many students will get opportunity to build up their careers in this field. Many will get interest to make career in this field also.
I am British and alays wanted to be a pilot from the age of techically 15 but so much has got in the way. My question is do i qualify for a federal grant so that i can do my flying lesson either at stanford airport or at epic flight academy . Can you get back to me on this as im a parent currently in islington london but very keen on being a pilot i am going to make it happen just i really ned the financiall help . I really dont mind paying it back but i need to live and have time with family please who ever reads this can you email me so that i go forard not back wards ,i can understand that lots of people ant to become pilots its my dream i want my ppl ,cpl fyling wild alaska or buffallo airays or any other airline in the united states of america or canada .
Am a kenyan who is interested in bieng a pilot but lacks funding.please help me.mushjoseph@gmail.com