Cost to become a helicopter pilot
One of the great benefits of pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Administration at UVU is the ability to pay for your entire education and flight training through federal financial aid and low-interest student loans.
Once you are enrolled in UVU's online Aviation Administration degree program, you can apply for financial aid with the guidance and assistance from the UVU Financial Aid Office (877-336-8872). Make sure that you request support in the full amount of the Cost of Attendance, which is $13, 030 (or slightly less if you live with your parents) for each of the three semesters during the 2016/2017 academic year. Since your UVU tuition will only be about $2, 000 per semester in average, this will result in a refund check to you every semester in an amount of about $11, 000 that you will then use to pay for your helicopter pilot training at Tallahassee Helicopters. Essentially, you will be able to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Administration and become a professional helicopter pilot in parallel without any out-of-pocket expenses. You will start repaying your student loans at the time you earn about $70, 000 per year.
The first step in assembling your financial aid portfolio in the full amount of the Cost of Attendance consists of completing the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA) online at . Based on the information you submit you will become eligible for the following funding sources:
- A Pell Grant in the amount of up to $5, 815 per year and possibly some scholarships to the extent you qualify for these awards. Those funds are absolutely free in support of your educational goals, i.e. they do not have to be repaid.
- A Stafford Loan - a very low-interest federal loan in the amount of $9, 500 for the first year, steadily increasing to $12, 500 in the last year. If you are a dependent student you will qualify for lower Stafford Loan amounts but become eligible to apply for a Parent PLUS Loan beyond the Stafford Loan. This loan is based on your parent's credit history and is completed through the Department of Education.
If you are a veteran eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, you may be able to use about $25, 000 of those benefits to pay for all your UVU tuition and course fees. Please contact the UVU Veterans office at 801-863-8212 to find out how your GI bill benefits can be utilized to keep your needs for any student loans to an absolute minimum.
If you need additional funds to reach the full amount of Cost of Attendance, you can apply for Private Education loans from any private education lending agency (see lender list below). Keep in mind that all funding combined consisting of Pell Grant, Stafford Loan, Parent PLUS Loan, VA benefits, and private education loans, may not exceed the Cost of Attendance.
