Student Loans for Flight School

How to pay for flight school

One of the most frequently asked questions is ‘how to pay for flight school?’

We understand the cost of pilot training is a large financial commitment. The cost is reflective of the quality of training, the future financial rewards and the many other benefits of being a pilot.

Flight school loans are a source of financial aid to help fund your pilot training. From federal student loans to private and state flight school loans, we have a loan option for you.

Meritize flight school student loans

L3Harris Flight Academy has partnered with Meritize to offer educational financing for approved training programs. Qualified students could borrow up to 100% of the cost of training.

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Sallie Mae flight school student loans

We've also teamed up with Sallie Mae to offer financing options to help fund pilot training. With a Smart Option Student Loan from Sallie Mae you could borrow up to 100% of the cost of training, and benefit from flexible repayment options.

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Private and state student loans for flight school

Cadets can also access student loans for flight school independently of L3Harris Flight Academy to fund their pilot training costs.

Private and state-funded student flight school loans have different eligibility criteria, making them an accessible option for many cadets. These loans are typically offered through banks, private lending organizations, or private savings. 

Our Financial Aid Officers are also on hand to help you identify and apply for the aviation loan that best suits your situation. So that everyone can pursue their dream of becoming a pilot.

Alaska Resident Loan

The Alaska Resident Loan is also known as the Alaska Supplemental Education Loan (ASEL) or the Alaska Family Education Loan (FEL) is a flight training loan available to Alaskan residents who are undertaking pilot training at an aviation school out of state.

This loan has a limit of $10,000 per year, and an aggregate limit of $56,000. Cadets who take out an Alaska Resident Loan must repay all money borrowed within 10 years of graduating from their flight training program.

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New Jersey Class Loan

Similarly, to the Alaska Resident Loan, the New Jersey Class Loan is available to residents of the state of New Jersey who are attending a flight training school out of state.

Applicants for the New Jersey pilot training loans can borrow up to the total cost of their pilot training course. This loan has a repayment term that can range between 10, 15, or 20 years depending on your circumstances.

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Vermont Advantages Student Loan

Residents of the state of Vermont can also apply for a dedicated student flight school loan. The Vermont Advantages Student Loan allows cadets to borrow up to the total cost of their chosen flight training course.

Repayment of this aviation loan begins 45 days from the graduation of your aviation course and has a repayment term of 15 years.

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American Airlines Credit Education Loan

If you are a member of the American Airlines Credit Union, you could be eligible for a student loan for flight school of up to $40,000. This loan requires repayment as soon as the funds have been sent and requires a repayment term of up to 10 years.

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AOPA Aviation Finance Company

The AOPA Aviation Finance company offers a flight school loan, the AOPA Flex Finance Loan, which allows cadets to borrow up to $100,000 towards the cost of the flight training course. As with the American Airlines Credit loan, repayments begin as soon as funds are disbursed, and there is a maximum repayment period of 7 years.

International students can also apply for this aviation loan if they can show 2 years of USA tax history. Alternatively, if students cannot show this, they can still apply for this student flight school loan with a cosigner who can prove 2 years of USA tax history.

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We Florida Financial (WeFly)

The state of Florida also offers aviation loans to its residents. Florida residents or members with the AOPA could be eligible to borrow up to $30,000 for aviation courses. For this loan, the repayment term is 6 years.

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Florida National Guard: Educational Dollars for Duty

The Florida Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) program is available for Florida National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and can support public tuition for the period of the Guard member’s service. This type of flight school funding is an alternative method of funding a flight training course.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, EDD can be used for courses that lead toward a Technical Certification, Associates, Bachelors, or Master’s Degree. The EDD can only be used towards approved courses with L3Harris.

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Pros and cons of private student loans for flight school

Pros

• Private student flight school loans could help you to cover flight school funding if you are not eligible for scholarships or grants
• It’s possible to receive loans with higher borrowing limits with private student loans compared to federal funding options
• Private flight school loans also often have lower interest rates compared with Federal loans, which can make repayments more affordable

Cons

• Eligibility for private student loans for flight school can be entirely dependent on credit history
• If you have a lower credit score it could mean that you end up having to pay higher interest rates compared to federal loans
• Some private loans require repayments to begin while you are still attending your flight school course
• Federal loan options typically offer more flexibility on repayment plans and can be easier to negotiate late or overdue payment issues

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