Professional Flight
The most direct route for turning a complete set of pilot credentials into degree credit.
College Credit for Pilot Certificates With Purdue Global
Earn FAA certificates at Pilot Rise while completing an online Purdue Global degree. Eligible students can receive college credit for completed flight credentials and 20% off Purdue Global bachelor’s-degree tuition.
Flexible SchedulingFinancing Available
Train locally. Earn the degree online.
Pilot Rise students can complete flight training in Dallas–Fort Worth while taking Purdue Global courses online. It has the coordination of a college flight path without requiring a move to campus.
Qualifying FAA credentials can be evaluated for college credit. Students may start the degree while training or apply after their certificates are complete.
A complete set of eligible pilot certificates and ratings may provide up to 45 college credit hours—about one year of college—helping students finish their degree faster.
Purdue Global controls admission, credit evaluation, degree requirements, and discount eligibility. Professional Flight also requires a first-class medical and a multiengine credential.
One plan for flight training and college.
Confirm the degree plan
Have Purdue Global review your program, prior credits, and required flight credentials.
Train and study
Complete Pilot Rise flight training while taking a manageable online course load.
Submit your credentials
Send Purdue Global the required FAA records and transcripts for evaluation.
Finish while building time
Continue the degree while instructing or gaining other professional flight experience.
This structured Part 61 route is typically much faster than semester-based collegiate Part 141 programs because flight training can progress at the student’s pace instead of following a university semester schedule.
Use your flight experience where it fits best.
Aviation Management
An aviation-focused option for students interested in operations, leadership, or management.
Business or another bachelor’s
Some flight experience may apply as electives or prior learning after Purdue Global’s review.
A degree can support long-term growth in airline and corporate aviation. An aviation degree usually uses pilot credit most efficiently; a different major may provide a broader backup career.
Compare Purdue Global with other universities.
Purdue Global stands out because Pilot Rise students can begin the online degree while training. The other options are often used after certificates are complete.
| University | Online option | Published approach | Why compare it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue Global — Pilot Rise PartnerExplore Purdue Global Aviation | Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight and Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management | Students may enroll while training with an approved partner. Purdue Global publishes a pathway awarding up to 45 college credit hours for the complete Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and multiengine credential set. | The standout option for Pilot Rise students who want flight training and a fully online degree to progress together, plus a 20% tuition reduction for eligible bachelor’s programs. |
| Liberty UniversityReview Liberty Experience Plus Aviation | Bachelor of Science in Aviation and other online aeronautics programs | Experience Plus lists specific course credit for FAA certificates and ratings. Liberty states that qualifying pilots may receive up to 45 college credits and complete remaining courses online. | Strong fit for pilots who already hold several certificates and want an aviation degree-completion route. |
| Utah Valley UniversityReview UVU Online Aviation | Online aviation programs, including Professional Pilot and Aviation Management paths | UVU allows online students to use a local flight school and evaluates previously earned FAA certificates required by its curriculum. | Public-university option with established online aviation coursework and local-flight-school flexibility. |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University WorldwideReview Embry-Riddle Pilot Operations | Bachelor of Science in Pilot Operations | Eligible commercial/instrument pilots with specified added ratings, or multi-engine ATP holders, may transfer up to 45 credits into the 120-credit program. | Aviation-focused online degree designed for already licensed pilots. |
| Thomas Edison State UniversityReview TESU Aviation Flight Technology | Associate in Science in Aviation Flight Technology and transfer-oriented online study | TESU’s current associate program is a 60-credit path for commercial pilots with an instrument rating; individual FAA credentials may also be evaluated under current prior-learning policies. | Transfer-oriented option for adult and working students who want a written degree audit before committing. |
The details worth checking before you enroll.
Can I attend Purdue Global while training at Pilot Rise?
Yes. Pilot Rise is a Purdue Global flight-school partner, so eligible students can enroll in Purdue Global online courses while completing local flight training. This concurrent structure is what separates the partnership from most degree-completion routes that begin after a pilot has already earned the required certificates.
See the complete Pilot Rise and Purdue Global college-credit pathway, then explore Purdue Global aviation degrees.
What Purdue Global tuition reduction do Pilot Rise students receive?
Eligible Pilot Rise students receive 20% off Purdue Global bachelor’s-degree tuition. Purdue Global determines eligibility and applies its current tuition, program, and combination rules, so confirm the reduction in writing before enrolling.
Which Purdue Global degree can use my pilot certificates?
The Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight has the clearest published flight-credential pathway. Purdue Global also states that its Aviation Management bachelor’s accepts eligible FAA certificate and rating credit. Business and other bachelor’s degrees may evaluate aviation credentials as electives or other prior-learning credit, but the result depends on the degree plan and official evaluation.
How much college credit will my pilot certificates receive?
There is no universal conversion table. The university reviews the exact certificate level, category and class ratings, degree program, duplicate course matches, previous transcripts, transfer maximum, residency requirement, and current catalog. Ask for a written degree audit showing where every credit applies.
Can I use a community college for the first two years?
Often, yes. Community college can be an efficient way to complete general education and lower-division requirements. Choose the target university first, then use its transfer guide and an advisor to select courses. The receiving university controls final acceptance.
Can I work while completing flight training or college?
Yes, but workload matters. Pilot Rise offers flexible and accelerated schedules. A student working full time may need a longer training timeline, while a full-time flight student should avoid overloading college courses during the most demanding phases.
Can financial aid or a 529 plan cover this route?
Financial aid depends on the university program and eligible charges. Eligible flight-training expenses may be covered by a 529 plan under expanded federal rules for postsecondary credentialing programs. Confirm documentation and withdrawal requirements with your plan administrator, then see our 529 Plans for Flight Training page.
Put flight training and college on one timeline.
Tell us your experience, availability, and career goal. We will map the flight-training side while Purdue Global confirms the degree details.
