SkyHigh

I read an article in the April 2011 edition of the Costco Connection magazine yesterday. It was regarding the benefits of a college education. In it they mention that the cost of a four year degree can reach 200K.

That number is probably for a private college like ERU, however state universities are not much cheaper. My local university would probably average out at 120K by the time of completion if starting this coming fall.

Now add the prospect of flight training at a university flight school with brand new planes and we are bumping against 300K to become a trained and educated professional pilot.

This is a massive investment to make. You could almost buy two houses with that kind of money. Am I the only one who sees the folly in this? All this time and money to get a job that pays slightly more than a mailman. We all should be guaranteed to make SWA wages after an investment like that.

Skyhigh

HSLD

It looks like it's all schools - I recently read an article about how prepaid state sponsored 529 plans are failing because of the rise in tuition. The rate of tuition increase was 135% in only five years, which is clearly not sustainable.

When you consider time in school, debt, and loan repayment - vocational technical training is becoming a much more attractive alternative to a traditional four year degree.

Walkeraviator

Oh No, I get it... waste of money. Get a 4 year degree in basket weaving from a local university and get your flight time together... Flight time means way more to an employer than education.

Take it from a man with a degree from ERAU that isnt worth the ashes it would make if i set it on fire.

rickair7777

When (if) the "real" pilot shortage ever arrives, degrees will become less significant in aviation. But until then...

Ziggy

I think degrees already have. HR departments simply use it as a discriminator now.

Grumble

While I won't try to defend that a 4 year degree in BS in anyway makes a better pilot, as long as companies want to use it as a discriminator, and as long as guys want to be major airline pilots, it will be a hurdle you'll have to clear.

I have a feeling with the explosive cost in tuition and flight training in the last 5 years (Seneca in my area is pushing $500/hour!), in another 5 the only real candidates that the airlines will have to choose from will be military guys. People just flat out won't have the ability to borrow that kind of money for a career, as lenders have been caught with their pants down for the last 15 years of lending practices. Plus the word has gotten out and younger aspiring pilots are getting the picture that it's not worth the investement no matter how bad they want it.

crewdawg

A degree has become another checked box with employers. Talking with a few HR departments (outside of aviation)...they are more concerned with your experience than what your degree is in. They don't care that you have an aviation degree, they care more about your ability to understand their business, and have the ability to promote and sell their business.

On the subject of rising college tuition. Not to sound like a recruiter, but this is why I don't understand why more people don't join the AIR Guard (not Army...unless you want a 12-15 month deployment every other year). My state gives 100% tuition...most states do (plus other benefits which equaled about 800-1k a month of cash in my pocket to use as I wished)! Aside from basic/tech school, I never went on a trip I didn't want to. So when my friends were graduating with >80k+ in debt, I finished with 5k (which included me getting up through my CFII). 6 years in the Guard is a small price to pay for the financial freedom of being debt free within a year of graduating college. Not to mention, I was able to see a lot of the U.S., and a few other countries, all while being paid.


Grumble...I love that patch, the same could be said for the Air Force!

SkyHigh

I imagine this all will play well into the hands of management when it comes time to initiate the multi-crew license. Sure the military guys will go to the majors but would they take a regional job?

I don't think so. It will open the regionals to hire 20 YO (dare I say it?) Indentured Servants to work for minimum wage under a training contract that will last for ten years.

Skyhigh

USMCFLYR

Dare you? What does it matter?

USMCFLYR

SkyHigh

USMCFLYR,

It is a commonly used term here. Look it up.

From Wilkipedea:

An indentured servant was typically a young, unskilled laborer contracted to work for an employer for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of their indenture.[1] They included men and women; most were under age 21, and most became helpers on farms or house servants. They were not paid wages.


Totally applies to a regional pilot who is under a training contract to repay their own cost of training.


Skyhigh