Which schools offer WIOA-approved flight school?

57 schools offer these programs, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Pick a state on the map or compare them belowCompare the states below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

What does a pilot do, and how do you become one?

Commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters and other aircraft. They usually need flight training, at one of the hundreds of FAA-certified flight schools or as part of a two- or four-year aviation degree, and must meet FAA requirements; airline pilots usually also need a bachelor's degree and experience as a commercial or military pilot.¹ For the FAA commercial pilot certificate you must be at least 18, read, speak and understand English, hold a private pilot certificate, log the required flight time (generally at least 250 hours in an airplane or 150 in a helicopter) and pass a knowledge test and a practical test. Drone pilots who fly for work need the FAA's remote pilot certificate instead: at least 16 and a passed knowledge test.²

Approved programsup to 12 to 23 to 4more than 4

How much does flight school cost?

Most pilot training programs approved for WIOA funding cost $1,950 to $12,500 if you pay yourself. Certificates and short courses mostly cost $1,490 to $9,788 and two-year degrees $10,596 to $70,136. Prices also differ by state: most cost $1,490 to $4,816 in California and $8,030 to $12,500 in Alaska.

That is the price of the whole program as the school reports it. If you qualify, WIOA funding can pay part or all of it, depending on local limits (who qualifies). The figures cover only programs approved for WIOA funding; other schools and programs may cost more or less.

Compare flight school by state: cost, pay and results

Flight school by state
State	Programs	Most cost	Earned a year, estimated	Working 6 months later	Finished
Alaska	41	$8,030 to $12,500	about $34,500	75%	99%
Arizona	4	Too few figures to show
Arkansas	1	Too few figures to show
California	22	$1,490 to $4,816	about $65,300	76%	100%
Colorado	1	Too few figures to show
Connecticut	1	Too few figures to show
Florida	3	Too few figures to show
Georgia	6	$1,137 to $3,410	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Illinois	1	Left out	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Indiana	3	Too few figures to show
Iowa	1	Too few figures to show
Kansas	1	Too few figures to show
Kentucky	1	No figures reported
Maine	1	Too few figures to show
Maryland	3	Too few figures to show
Massachusetts	2	Too few figures to show
Minnesota	4	Too few figures to show
Mississippi	1	Not enough data	Not reported	Not reported	Left out
Missouri	5	$2,610 to $84,955	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Nebraska	1	Too few figures to show
New Hampshire	1	Too few figures to show
Ohio	2	Too few figures to show
Oregon	2	Too few figures to show
Pennsylvania	1	Too few figures to show
Tennessee	5	$5,760 to $33,712	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Texas	2	Too few figures to show
Utah	1	Too few figures to show
Washington	25	$869 to $6,600	about $24,500	74%	73%
Wisconsin	2	Too few figures to show

Each figure is the middle program in that state. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools may offer flight school too. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).How these figures are made

Flight school, pilot degree or drone license? What the 144 programs are

By kind, the 144 programs approved for WIOA funding are drone pilot (Part 107) course (36 programs), flight instructor (CFI) course (25 programs), pilot (associate degree, 23 programs), instrument rating or add-on rating course (22 programs), and 38 more of 5 other kinds.

Across the US, 56 of the 144 programs take students without a high school diploma, 24 ask for a diploma or equivalent, 63 ask for earlier courses first and 1 asks for an associate degree.

Is there free flight school in the US?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by state: most pilot training programs cost $1,490 to $4,816 in California and $8,030 to $12,500 in Alaska. Each state's page lists every program with its price.

Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply

Other training by state

Approved programs per field across every state. Each opens that field's comparison by state.

Where the pilot training program numbers by state come from

Which pilot training programs are counted?

Programs each state approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁷ Schools that never applied for approval are missing.

What the figures for each state mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the facts about flight school

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Flight school by state