Who couldn’t use a little help paying for flight school?

Thankfully, many organizations worldwide have aviation scholarships to help students like you. The trick is to dive in and start looking because many of them are hiding in plain sight.

Here’s a look at a few opportunities for flight school students, plus a few tips to help you find even more.

Flight School Scholarships

The first thing to know about aviation scholarships, especially for something as specific as pilot training, is that it’s all about the fine print and intent.

Most are given by not-for-profit organizations that have a specific mission. Promoting under-represented communities (minorities, women, or LGBTQ+ people) in aviation is important, and for each case, at least one organization awards aviation scholarships. 

Finding out it exists is one of the hardest parts of winning a good flight training scholarship. Some may be well-known, but others seem to be top secret. Keep your ears to the ground, especially for smaller regional or specialized opportunities. 

Here’s a list of five nationwide scholarship opportunities for flight school students, but many organizations offer more than one scholarship program. 

Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship

The CloudDancer scholarship is for veterans who wish to pursue a private pilot certificate and an aviation career.

To be eligible, applicants must be a member of the US military or retired with an honorable discharge.

You must also hold a First or Second class medical certificate, complete a questionnaire, and submit a one to two-page essay about your background and career goals. 

The total award of $10,000 is distributed upon reaching specific milestones in training: $3,000 for completing the written exam, $3,000 for your first solo flight, $2,000 for your solo cross-country, and a final $2,000 when you complete your checkride.

Learn more about the Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer scholarship here.

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Flight Training Scholarships

EAA gives more than $1 million annually in aviation scholarships.

Their website lists about 20 scholarships open for various students pursuing initial flight training or getting a new rating.

Many are geared toward EAA’s Young Eagle members or for the EAA Air Academy, but many are also available for use at any flight school. EAA also maintains a list of post-secondary scholarships for students studying aviation. 

Learn more about the EAA scholarship here.

LeRoy Homer Foundation Scholarship

LeRoy Homer, Jr, was the First Officer on United Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, during the 9/11 attacks.

In his memory, the Foundation supports aspiring aviators pursuing private pilot licenses. To be eligible, you must be a US citizen or permanent resident between 16 and 23 years old. Applications are open annually from October 31 to January 31.

Learn more about the LeRoy Homer scholarship here.

Women in Aviation International (WAI) Scholarships

Women in Aviation maintains an extensive list of scholarship opportunities for women pursuing aviation careers, including a few for pilots and flight school students. 

The WAI website has a complete list of scholarships. Applications for these scholarships are only open to WAI members.

Learn more about WAI scholarships here.

Ninety-Nines First Wings Award

The First Wings Award is one of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships awarded by the Ninety-Nines. These scholarships are targeted to help women advance in the aviation industry. Total annual scholarship and grant awards exceed $12 million.

The First Wings Award is open only to student pilots who are also members of The 99s.

You must have been a 99s member for three months before applying, and you must have five hours logged in the six months before applying. More details are available on The 99s’ website. 

Deadlines are April 1 for spring and October 1 for fall. 

Learn more about the First Wings Awards here.

More Aviation Scholarships Tips and Tricks

In addition to the big-name scholarships, be sure to look out for smaller regional scholarships.

Many regional trade groups give money to support the local industry, and regional scholarships are more likely to have changing requirements and fewer applicants.

One example of a regional aviation scholarship (although not specifically for flight school) is the NTBAA (North Texas Business Aviation Association) Scholarship, an academic scholarship for students pursuing a career in business aviation.

One last tip: Be sure to look for tips for success on the scholarship website, along with help on how to submit winning applications. Most of the committees include detailed instructions and tips to ensure your application makes it all the way through. 

In the end, a winning scholarship application proves that giving you money will help the institution fulfill its mission—whether it’s bettering aviation in your region or for people with your background.