Do You Need a College Degree to Be a Pilot?

No. The FAA doesn’t require a college degree for any pilot certificate, including the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate that airline pilots hold. Airlines set their own hiring rules, and most major U.S. passenger airlines now list a four-year degree as preferred rather than required. Delta, for example, calls it highly preferred but not a requirement for first officers. Where a degree really matters is the Restricted ATP: a qualifying aviation degree from an FAA-authorized school lets you fly for an airline with 1,000 or 1,250 hours instead of 1,500. Below, Wayman separates the FAA rules from airline preferences and compares flight school, college and doing both.

Key Takeaways

• No FAA pilot certificate requires a college degree.
• Airlines decide on degrees themselves; most major carriers now treat a degree as preferred.
• A qualifying aviation degree unlocks the Restricted ATP at 1,000 hours (bachelor’s) or 1,250 hours (associate).
• Not every degree counts. The school must hold FAA authorization, and your commercial and instrument training must go through its Part 141 curriculum.
• Wayman’s AS in Aeronautics is FAA-authorized for the R-ATP at 1,250 hours.

What does the FAA actually require?

The FAA certifies pilots on age, medical fitness, English, knowledge tests, flight experience and practical tests. Education level isn’t on the list.

Do airlines require a college degree?

Airlines set their own hiring standards on top of FAA rules, and they’ve changed. Delta moved the four-year degree from required to preferred in January 2022, and its pilot hiring FAQ still describes a degree as highly preferred but not a requirement for first officer candidates. Other major carriers list a degree as preferred too, and regional airlines generally hire on certificates, hours and medical.

“Preferred” still matters. When several applicants have similar flight time, a degree can be the tiebreaker at the most competitive carriers. If your long-term target is a major airline, a degree is worth planning for, but it doesn’t have to come before your flight training.

International applicants should note that some airlines evaluate foreign degrees for U.S. equivalency. Delta, for example, requires evaluation by a NACES member organization.

How can a degree reduce the hours you need for an airline job?

This is where a degree changes your timeline. Under 14 CFR 61.160, some pilots can earn a Restricted ATP (R-ATP) and fly as an airline first officer before reaching 1,500 hours:

Two conditions trip people up:

1. The school must be FAA-authorized. A general college degree, even in aviation, doesn’t qualify unless the institution holds an FAA letter of authorization for the R-ATP.
2. Your commercial and instrument training must go through the school’s Part 141 curriculum. The ground training must be at the institution, and the flight training at the institution or its approved Part 141 partner. A commercial certificate earned elsewhere before enrolling may not count, so ask before you transfer.

An R-ATP lets you fly as a first officer at 21. You still need the full ATP before serving as captain at a scheduled airline. See how long it takes to reach 1,500 hours and ATP vs. commercial for the full picture.

Flight school, college or both: which path fits you?

Which option should you choose?

• You already have a bachelor’s degree: go straight to flight training. Your degree already covers airline preference, and a second degree rarely pays off.
• You’re finishing high school: an integrated degree gives you a credential and R-ATP minimums in one program.
• You’re an international student: the F-1 visa AS in Aeronautics and the M-1 visa Professional Pilot Program have different rules. Compare them in M-1 vs. F-1 visa.
• You’re watching cost: compare total price and time on how much it costs to become a pilot.

What mistakes do students make with the degree decision?

• Assuming any degree lowers the hours. Only a qualifying aviation degree from an FAA-authorized institution counts.
• Paying for four years only for airline preference. If your goal is an airline cockpit soon, time and seniority matter too.
• Transferring certificates in without checking. Commercial and instrument training done elsewhere may not count toward the R-ATP.

Plan your path at Wayman

Wayman College of Aeronautics has trained pilots at North Perry Airport since 1987. Our FAA Part 141 programs include a vocational Professional Pilot Program and a 72-credit Associate of Science in Aeronautics that is FAA-authorized for the R-ATP at 1,250 hours. Talk to a Wayman advisor to compare both paths, or see how to become a pilot.

Frequently Asked Questions