Reach BOLD new heights
Airline pilots and support staff are in high demand all over the world. With an expected shortage of 700,000 pilots in the coming years, now is a great time to explore a career in aviation. UNK is proud to be a preferred destination for aviation education, with one of the lowest program costs in the nation and access to a fleet of more than 90 multi-purpose, modern aircraft.
Domestic Students
Our domestic students know the landscape of South Central Nebraska. With cold winters and hot summers, our changing weather patterns offer exposure to the challenges of flying in all types of environments.
Combined with one of the lowest tuitions in the country, students take advantage of low flight training costs while living in a safe community known for its friendly and welcoming midwest nature.
With a regional airline flying into Kearney Regional Airport daily, UNK is situated between two of the nation’s largest airline hubs in Chicago and Denver. Our aviation students have nearly unlimited access to flight training airspace only minutes after takeoff – something you cannot find in crowded metropolitan areas.
Nebraska Flight School
UNK works closely with our flight training provider Nebraska Flight School, a subsidiary of one of the nation’s largest flight training organizations American Flight Schools.
With schools across four US states including California, Oregon, Colorado, and Nebraska, American Flight Schools has been training pilots since 1977 and has a network that includes five flight training facilities, two maintenance facilities, a charter operation, and an aircraft sales division.
American Flight Schools opened Nebraska Flight School in 2020 giving UNK Aviation students access to over 90 aircraft. Staffed with full-time professional Certificated Flight Instructors drawn from across the country, Nebraska Flight School is an integral partner with UNK’s Aviation program solidifying UNK as a world-class university flight training destination and ensuring our students develop the professional flight skills and cockpit experience needed to enter the global aviation industry at the highest levels.
Flight Training Costs
UNK Aviation students obtain their Bachelor of Science in Aviation through classes at Discovery Hall, UNK's new, state-of-the-art STEM facility. All our hands-on flying training is provided by Nebraska Flight School at the Kearney Regional Airport, a short, 10-minute drive east of the UNK main campus.
Flight training costs (separate from UNK academic tuition) are paid by Aviation students directly to Nebraska Flight School as they progress through their FAA Private Pilot Certification, Commercial Pilot Certification, Instrument rating, Multiengine rating, and Certificated Flight Instructor ratings.
Nebraska Flight School offers one of the lowest national average flying training costs in the world, and their competitive prices are just one of the many reasons why students seeking a career in aviation come to UNK. Costs for flight training through Nebraska Flight School can be found on the Nebraska Flight School website.
Pilot Emphasis Careers
Becoming a pilot is a dream for many students, but at UNK, we make those dreams a reality. Not only is pursuing professional piloting attainable, but it is also a valuable return on investment.
Projected global pilot shortages have been well documented over the past several years, making becoming a pilot a preferred choice for students looking to develop a long-term career that offers some of the highest salaries in the world, with the added benefit of a lifestyle that affords national and international travel, adventure, generous benefits, and a prestigious status based on multidisciplinary technical knowledge and personal leadership.
The Professional Pilot emphasis of UNK's Aviation degree will fully prepare you for any piloting career, from commercial to charter to military flight.
Management Emphasis Careers
For every pilot flying, hundreds of professionals in aviation management are needed. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation (Management emphasis) can expect to attract attention from aviation employers worldwide as airports continue to be built at a rapid pace globally to meet the rise in airline passenger travel.
The Management emphasis focuses on leadership in areas including airport management, flight safety, air traffic control, aviation law, and aviation human factors.
"I graduated from UNK in 2008 and have since flown mapping aircrafts for Google, and later flew as a First Officer on the CRJ700 and Embraer 145 for American Eagle Airlines based at Chicago O'Hare. I am now the Director of Compliance at Jet Linx Aviation, and occasionally fly as a Safety Pilot on a PC-12." "I am happy that I chose the Support Services emphasis as it allowed me to take advantage of additional business-related educational opportunities that the major offered while still being able to fly and apply those credits to my major. I firmly believe that the Support Services emphasis helped me achieve my current position, as it was a direct representation of the duties, tasks and scope of knowledge I encounter every day. It has allowed me to be more well-rounded as I grew my career."
Student Involvement
UNK Aviation's faculty believe that student involvement is critical to turning out well-rounded graduates. Alpha Eta Rho, the oldest collegiate aviation fraternity, affords students networking opportunities, events, and more. Our Aviation Professional Lecture Series connects students with industry pros, encouraging professional development outside the classroom.
Student Resources
Aviation News
UNK hosting Air Force Flight Academy for future pilotsThe eight-week training program gives students an opportunity to earn their private pilot license.
UNK spring graduates celebrate successes, look toward the future"It was a long road to get here. This is the payoff in the end to show that you really accomplished something," said Dawson Kouma, who earned a bachelor's degree in aviation systems management.
From airway science to business law, Carstenson leaves behind 32 years of success"The best career advice I received while working for UNK was from former Dean Galen Hadley, who told me to never give up and to work as hard as necessary to achieve goals that I was previously convinced were impossible."
Now a UNK lecturer, JetBlue co-founder Al Spain has plenty of experiences to share"Al has accomplished more than most aviators could ever dream of,” said David Ballinger, director of UNK’s aviation program. “And the best part is, he’s only just started.”
Soar to new heights with an aviation degreeUNK is proud to be a preferred destination for aviation education, with one of the lowest program costs in the nation and access to a fleet of more than 100 multipurpose, modern aircraft.
Aviation Wings Ceremony
More News
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UNK Program Hopes to Combat Pilot Shortages
KEARNEY, Neb. (NTV) — A University of Nebraska at Kearney program is trying to address pilot shortages across the country. Read More...
UNK’s Aviation Program Hopes to Address Pilot Shortage
KEARNEY, Neb. (KLKN) – We have seen a shortage in pilots for the last decade, but the University of Nebraska – Kearney could potentially address that issue with their Aviation Program. Read More...
