The Great ERAU?

[Golden Flyer]

This is the bottom line! I still dont understand. If one can get training at an FBO for $30 000 then obtain a degree from a college/university, why do these people tend to pay so much for ERAU? $140K + for an international student and not much better for nationals. What is the big deal with this place? ERAU attendants/ ERAU grads... EXPLAIN PLEASE!!! I almost went there, then I did extensive research.... Please no b.s. It is a legitimate question

[CoBuilder]

It's more like 180k plus at ERAU.

Some people just don't really know any better. They haven't fully researched all their options. It's not necessarily intentional but rather ignorance.

Also, getting training at an FBO may or may not be a better option depending on total costs involved. Not every FBO is super cheap at 30k. It depends on location. Even if it was if you went to a private university with 28k plus tuition per year then the price isn't really much cheaper overall. You're still paying over 150k plus.

Getting training done at an FBO and going to a separate non-aviation university would only work if you have good rates at the FBO and the university you are going to is a cheap state or city school with tuition at less than 5k per year.

Factor in traveling time and costs just to get to the FBO. Not everyone lives within walking distance or 30 min. away from an FBO. My nearest FBO is a two and a half hour drive.

[DE727UPS]

I went there, in 1980, because they made it sound like you would get to a good job faster, and cause I foolishly wanted a degree in aviation.

Looking back on it, going to ERAU was a mistake.

[socalef9]

why was it a mistake? was going to that college a mistake or getting a degree in aeronautics the mistake? Im asking because planing on going to ATP and finishing up my last two years of college at the ERAU extended campus in long beach and majoring in professional aeronautics. should i not major in aeronautics?

[Golden Flyer]

Originally Posted by socalef9

why was it a mistake? was going to that college a mistake or getting a degree in aeronautics the mistake? Im asking because planing on going to ATP and finishing up my last two years of college at the ERAU extended campus in long beach and majoring in professional aeronautics. should i not major in aeronautics?

Well it is always good to have a degree outside aviation to fall back on Socalef9. I believe that's what 727UPS meant. Not much that degree can do for you...

[DE727UPS]

"Well it is always good to have a degree outside aviation to fall back on Socalef9"

That sums it up, in my view.

At the same time, some folks can't come up with anything better. I know at 18 I couldn't. The main thing is you check the "I have a degree" square. ERAU extended campus isn't a bad way to do it.

[TFaudree_ERAU]

I speak from the point of a graduate of ERAU, and one that is doing pretty well in the post graduation job world.

I went into ERAU KNOWING (caps intended) that I wanted a career in aviation. I've known that since I could say the word "airplane". I've also always been in the mindset that any degree is a good degree. Most of you will say "an aviation degree is useless". Prove it! Not that it matters to those nay-sayers, but I know plenty of people that have gotten degrees in Chemistry or Biology, but now they work for business like Capital One and Ford. Not sure what those jobs require a chem or bio degree for though . As long as you have the paper, you're golden in most fields.

Right now I'm working for a small company in the charter business, but already I'm seeing doors opening for me in the management side of things. And not once did I set foot in a classroom for business management. Just goes to prove that if you go down the right path, holding your degree, you can get into just about any field you want (with the exception of astrophysics and the likes, of course).

[B]

There is another option that you have not considered. You can attend one of ERAU's extended campuses which will cost about $300 per credit hour instead of the $1020 at a main campus. That is a third less for the same degree. I attended a local community college for my first two years, and then transferred to ERAU. I now am 2 classes short of my master’s degree at the prestigious ERAU. I did all my flight training at that community college witch cost a lot less. My total cost for the degree and CFI about $62,000.
I intentionally got a degree in aviation; it's not stupid to do so. This debate has gone on for a while on this forum but here is my thinking. If I lost my ablity to fly I can use my experience and degree in aviation to get a job doing something else. I would hate to start over at age 50 and waste all that useful knowledge. I have gained so many helpful contacts at ERAU and the local airport that for a while I thought about not going the flying route; there are several jobs that pay just as well. I will keep that option in my back pocket for a rainy day. ERAU is a great school, you can make it work for your budget, you just have to get creative.
In short study ALL your options, NETWORK, and have fun no matter what you decide!!!!

The link below has ERAU's main campus cost at the top and the extended campus cast at the very bottom.

http://www.erau.edu/er/costs.html

[DE727UPS]

"I speak from the point of a graduate of ERAU, and one that is doing pretty well in the post graduation job world"

Me, too....

"Most of you will say "an aviation degree is useless". Prove it!"

Well, it checks the square, so it's not useless. When we say it's useless we just aren't taking the time to fully explain our position.

Having a second area of expertise, a fallback career, a strong interest in something totally outside of aviation, is really ideal. Now that I'm older, I see that, and I preach it. I wish I had a BS in counseling or education rather than wasting those two years on Riddle (I was a general ed transfer). You know the airlines don't care, right?

Sometimes when we are young and just want to be pilots when we grow up, we haven't developed any interests besides flying. Such a person is better off with an aviation degree than no degree at all if that person wants to shoot for the top of the career field.

"As long as you have the paper, you're golden in most fields"

Prove it!

[DE727UPS]

"I now am 2 classes short of my master’s degree at the prestigious ERAU"

That, and $1.85, will get you a grande coffee, with room, at Starbucks...

"prestigious ERAU"

I graduated from Riddle in 1983, been a major airline pilot since 1990, and I can promise you, no one on the outside thinks it's prestigious. Riddle is a legend in it's own mind.

[mikecweb]

I went to ERAU daytona for Bike Week and the Daytona 500.

I went there for aerospace engineering. You can't bash their aerospace engineering program. That program is just as good as GT/MIT for undergrads. Everyone of my friends that graduated with a AE degree is now making well over 75k (starting salary) at the big name aerospace companies.

I couldn't hack the studying. So I switched to aerosci where I gave myself the oppurtunity to be an Air Traffic Controller or Pilot. ATC is another place where only Riddle and a few other schools will allow you oppurtunities.

Did I waste my time and money???
Thats debatable. One thing for sure I researched the heck out of my schools and I wasn't ignorant. I know for sure I wouldn't be a pilot today if I hadn't gone there. I wouldn't have gotten the same exposure to flying from friends and therefore wouldn't have even entertained the idea of being a private pilot let alone doing it as a career.

Its alot of money but you gotta get your money's worth. You can't go there thinking. Well I'll get mom and dad to slap down there life savings and I'll fly for Delta or FedEx the day after graduation.

Mom and Dad didn't do that for me and I'm paying for a majority of my expenses less scholorships. And get a load of this. My flying was actually cheaper yes cheaper then if I went to the FBO that I was a flight instructor at. ERAU's flight department is actually on par or a little cheaper then most FBO's with the same equipment.

As far as now goes. I'm a cargo pilot at a Part 135 operator and I love my job. And no I'm not going to feed the flames by saying "And ERAU got me there" cause that would be BS and I would throwup but it kinda did in a non traditional sense.

Now I must get back to making my $1100 loan payment for this month.

[boeing 777-300]

what happens if you get into a car accident at the age of 25 and break something that causes you to not get even a 3rd class medical. Everyone thinks, oh that wont happen to me!! how do you know? what if something goes wrong in your 172 on a solo? you bring the plane down too rough and break something?

These are just examples. I personally would like to have that accounting degree or a buisness degree so i dont have to work at some crappy buisness place because my aero science degree couldnt get me a job at the nicer Buisness down the street.

[socalef9]

Originally Posted by boeing 777-300

what happens if you get into a car accident at the age of 25 and break something that causes you to not get even a 3rd class medical. Everyone thinks, oh that wont happen to me!! how do you know? what if something goes wrong in your 172 on a solo? you bring the plane down too rough and break something?

These are just examples. I personally would like to have that accounting degree or a buisness degree so i dont have to work at some crappy buisness place because my aero science degree couldnt get me a job at the nicer Buisness down the street.

i know its off topic but, how will breaking a bone keep you from getting a medical. i thought it was just based on sight, hearing, body sugars and such things like a physical?

[mikecweb]

Originally Posted by boeing 777-300

.....what if something goes wrong in your 172 on a solo? you bring the plane down too rough and break something?

Good thing I don't have to worry bout that. But yes these solo flights in the Baron are hair raising.
How many people do you know actually use their degree in their field. I couldn't be a lawyer or an accountant. But I'm pretty sure I could do other professional jobs. God forbid I ever did lose my medical I would still want to be involved in aviation in some way.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

Now I must get back to making my $1100 loan payment for this month.

Ouch. That's more than my house payment.

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

And get a load of this. My flying was actually cheaper yes cheaper then if I went to the FBO that I was a flight instructor at. ERAU's flight department is actually on par or a little cheaper then most FBO's with the same equipment.

You're probably preaching to the choir when you say this because I dont thinkg a lot of people can actually fathom that you can go to a school with the best flight departments like UND ore ERAU and it will be cheaper than doing the regular college/FBO route.

While I would never criticise anyones flight training, I do believe you do get better training at the flight schools than you do at an FBO if you apply yourself in all of your classes. Especially the non-flying classes like human factors, flight physiology, aerodynamics, aw heck, just about anything. At the flight schools ALL of your teachers are experts in those fields of study. Just look that the backgrounds of the proffessors at UND and ERAU, they're the best in their field. You're not going to get that at an FBO in all areas of study. Granted, what you get from an FBO would be "good enough" to become a pilot, a deep understanding of everthing is better.

[boeing 777-300]

i know its off topic but, how will breaking a bone keep you from getting a medical. i thought it was just based on sight, hearing, body sugars and such things like a physical?

sorry i should have used the word damage. breaking an arm or something is no big deal. i meant that if you got in a crash and hit your head hard against something and damage your vision, hearing.. etc

Granted, what you get from an FBO would be "good enough" to become a pilot, a deep understanding of everthing is better.

have you ever flown at an FBO for more than a couple weeks to know what its like? im just asking too see how you are basing your opinion. im not criticizing your ideas, just curious.

[DE727UPS]

"Granted, what you get from an FBO would be "good enough" to become a pilot, a deep understanding of everthing is better"

Ahhh...not really. But if your at UND, I'm not surprised you'd say that. Wait tell you hit the real world.

I think there are positives and negatives with the UND vs FBO argument. In the end, it's a wash...

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by boeing 777-300

have you ever flown at an FBO for more than a couple weeks to know what its like? im just asking too see how you are basing your opinion. im not criticizing your ideas, just curious.

Yeah, I got my private at an FBO. While I can't really apply my experiance at an FBO as being how it is at all of them, the way ground school goes it only makes sense that a flight school with lots of experianced faculty members would have a better chance at giving you a better understanding of things. This of course only happens if the school hires those types of people and you apply yourself in those classes.

The actual flight training would be about the same in my opinion as far as what kind of pilot you'll be when things are all said and done.

I guess my reason for choosing UND was because it was cheaper than the FBO/college way in my area and I liked all the ground school classes. But to each their own right?

[UAL747400]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

"Granted, what you get from an FBO would be "good enough" to become a pilot, a deep understanding of everthing is better"

Ahhh...not really. But if your at UND, I'm not surprised you'd say that. Wait tell you hit the real world.

I think there are positives and negatives with the UND vs FBO argument. In the end, it's a wash...

True enough. That's just my opinion on it for right now.

[johns13b]

The flight and academic departments are two toatally seperate deals. There are many students who go for a degree from ERAU, then fly off campus. However, the rates right now at Riddle for renting a C172 with the latest equipment is $92/hr. Thats about average at the Daytona field.

I've flown at many flight schools. The structure of Riddle matches what I want in a flight school. This is not to say Riddle is for everyone...it's not. I can understand the logic of flying elsewhere, but I'm not getting a "Pilot" degree. Students can choose to earn a degree that will put them anywhere in the aviation inustry, not just flying. I will have options, but flying is my dream.

The internship I had knocked down the hour requirement severely. I couldn't have done that without Riddle. The flight instructor job I will get here is better than anywhere else. I'll get to further my education for FREE, benefits that are better than anywhere in the area, and I get to instruct where you won't run out of students. OR, I can instruct for a couple months to get hours and go to a regional, but I don't want to just get the minimum.

Every student at Embry-Riddle has a different story. However, we all have something in common. We love the industry and we believe that Riddle can place us where we want to be.

Are we all wrong in going to Riddle? I think not.
Are we better than everyone else? The whole "Riddle pilots are arrogant" thing bothers me. We're not better people or pilots. I just believe that I go to a school that fits me extremely well.
Am I guaranteed a "jet job"? No. Anything worth doing has to be earned and isn't easy. However, the internship opportunities make it easier.

Is Riddle great? The best way to answer that is just to say that it's great for me.

[boeing 777-300]

The flight and academic departments are two toatally seperate deals. There are many students who go for a degree from ERAU, then fly off campus. However, the rates right now at Riddle for renting a C172 with the latest equipment is $92/hr. Thats about average at the Daytona field.

I've flown at many flight schools. The structure of Riddle matches what I want in a flight school. This is not to say Riddle is for everyone...it's not. I can understand the logic of flying elsewhere, but I'm not getting a "Pilot" degree. Students can choose to earn a degree that will put them anywhere in the aviation inustry, not just flying. I will have options, but flying is my dream.

The internship I had knocked down the hour requirement severely. I couldn't have done that without Riddle. The flight instructor job I will get here is better than anywhere else. I'll get to further my education for FREE, benefits that are better than anywhere in the area, and I get to instruct where you won't run out of students. OR, I can instruct for a couple months to get hours and go to a regional, but I don't want to just get the minimum.

Every student at Embry-Riddle has a different story. However, we all have something in common. We love the industry and we believe that Riddle can place us where we want to be.

Are we all wrong in going to Riddle? I think not.
Are we better than everyone else? The whole "Riddle pilots are arrogant" thing bothers me. We're not better people or pilots. I just believe that I go to a school that fits me extremely well.
Am I guaranteed a "jet job"? No. Anything worth doing has to be earned and isn't easy. However, the internship opportunities make it easier.

Is Riddle great? The best way to answer that is just to say that it's great for me.

when i post about ERAU, i have an idea i try to present. This idea is that flying can be done at an FBO while one gets a regular college degree. This does a couple things. 1. Cheaper 2. Get a back up degree.

Now, for some ERAU is great. If money isnt a problem and you really have no interest in any other subject. go for it. i personally have chosen the FBO/ regular college path. Its convenient, cost-efficent, and in my city.

i dont think ERAU is a bad school. Heck im pretty sure they have the best Aero engineering in US of A.

[MFT1Air]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

"I now am 2 classes short of my master’s degree at the prestigious ERAU"

That, and $1.85, will get you a grande coffee, with room, at Starbucks...

"prestigious ERAU"

I graduated from Riddle in 1983, been a major airline pilot since 1990, and I can promise you, no one on the outside thinks it's prestigious. Riddle is a legend in it's own mind.

Back in 1972, I did hear about ERAU, but chose the military academy instead. In retrospect, it's all about the fact I have a degree. Nothing matters after that but how you utilize it.

Harvard, Yale, Cornell, MIT. . .they are all strictly schools. Doesn't guarantee squat in the long run, believe me.

The same discussion occurs when people discuss advantages of two year college attendance before transitioning to a 4-year school with the pros and cons. Yea, yea. . .point/counterpoint - what matters is what you do once you've graduated.

[SkyHawg]

why was it a mistake? was going to that college a mistake or getting a degree in aeronautics the mistake? Im asking because planing on going to ATP and finishing up my last two years of college at the ERAU extended campus in long beach and majoring in professional aeronautics. should i not major in aeronautics?

I am going to ERAU's distance learning which is $185 a credit hour. They are giving me 35 credits for my ratings for free plus tranfering 35 hours but 26 of them overlap with the 35 hours I get for my ratings... basically I don't know what part of the 26 hours will stick. So for me over 3 years it will cost a total of $15k. Not bad for a checkmark.