What is the difference between the Professional Flight and Aviation Management degree programs?
The Professional Flight program focuses on training students to become professional pilots, providing extensive flight training and certifications. Aviation Management concentrates on aviation's business and operational side, preparing students for management roles in airports, airlines, and other aviation-related businesses.
What do I need to be admitted into the Professional Flight degree program?
Admission to the Professional Flight major at Auburn University is competitive and requires a secondary application after university admission. Meeting university admission requirements does not guarantee program admission, as we anticipate more qualified student applicants than program capacity.
For incoming freshmen, the secondary application will be evaluated on various academic, personal, and professional characteristics linked to success within the aviation industry. These include, but are not limited to, high school GPA, math sub-score on standardized tests (such as the SAT or ACT), and prior flight experience (not required for admission). Students will be prompted to complete a program-specific essay as part of the secondary application.
The secondary application for incoming transfer students (internal or external) will reflect academic work done at the college level, including a college GPA and completed college math courses. Transfer students will be required to hold a Private Pilot Certificate at the time of application. They should also expect to complete a program-specific essay as part of the secondary application.
Is there advanced credit awarded for Private Pilot Certificate holders?
If you hold a Private Pilot Certificate before starting classes at Auburn University, you may be eligible for advanced credit in the Professional Flight program. To receive advance placement credit for pilot certification/rating earned elsewhere, students must pass a 25-question general knowledge written exam administered by their assigned flight instructor and pass a proficiency flight check to Auburn University’s End-Of-Course standard for the corresponding FAA certificate/rating. Upon completion, students will receive credit 7 hours of credit for AVMF 2150, 2171, and 2181.
I started my private pilot certificate outside of Auburn, but I will not have it before I start classes. Can I complete it at Auburn?
Auburn does not complete ratings/certificates started outside of Auburn.
What are the costs associated with flight training?
Flight training costs include ground school fees, flight instruction fees, and other related expenses. Costs may vary depending on the specific training requirements and the student's progress. Estimated costs based on the FAA-approved training course outline (TCO) can be found under the Flight Fees section in the Auburn Bulletin School of Aviation page.
Does Auburn accept the GI Bill for flight training?
Yes, the GI Bill is accepted for flight training. Students who plan to use the GI Bill should coordinate with Auburn’s Veterans Resource Center.
How is the flight training structured?
Flight training is structured in stages, beginning with private pilot certification and progressing through instrument rating, commercial pilot certification, and multi-engine rating. Each stage includes ground school and flight lab courses.
What documentation is required to begin flight training?
Required documentation includes:
- FAA 1st Class Medical Certificate
- US birth certificate or passport
- Valid driver's license
- Any student or private certificates, if applicable
Documents must be scanned in person at the Delta Aviation Education Building at 335 Aviation Way, Auburn, AL 36830.
What are the academic standards for the Professional Flight program?
Students must earn at least a C in all major courses and maintain a minimum 2.70 overall GPA. Failure to meet these standards may result in program dismissal. Students must also demonstrate consistent progression in their flight training.
What career opportunities are available after completing the Professional Flight program?
Graduates can pursue careers as commercial pilots, flight instructors, airline pilots, and various other roles within the aviation industry.
Does Auburn University’s Professional Flight program qualify for Restricted-Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certification?
Auburn University’s Professional Flight program is an FAA-authorized R-ATP institution, and its graduates qualify for FAA (R-ATP) certification with as little as 1,000 hours of flying experience.
What steps do I need to take to qualify for the R-ATP certification?
To qualify for the R-ATP certification, you must:
- Complete ground and flight training for the commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating at Auburn.
- Complete the required coursework and flight training as part of Auburn’s FAA-authorized Professional Flight program.
- Ensure all flight logs and records are accurately maintained and meet FAA standards.
What are the benefits of obtaining R-ATP certification?
R-ATP certification allows you to begin your career earlier by reducing the total flight hour requirement to as little as 1,000 hours of flying experience versus the 1,500 flight hours required for the ATP certification.
For more detailed information, visit Auburn University's Professional Flight program page and consult the FAA guidelines on R-ATP certification.
What happens if I am admitted to Auburn University but not admitted into the Professional Flight major?
If you are admitted to Auburn University but not into the Professional Flight program, you will need to declare a different major. This will allow you to begin your studies and become part of the Auburn community.
Students in other majors who are interested in professional flight will have the opportunity to apply later as an internal transfer. The application process for internal transfer students is outlined on the School of Aviation website.
I want to come visit your College and meet with someone from the School of Aviation to ask questions. How do I set that up?
Prospective students can schedule a tour through the School of Aviation website. You can also arrange a campus tour through Admissions or the College of Liberal Arts. It is recommended that you schedule your Aviation tour first, as it is offered less frequently than campus tours.
I have AP/IB credit, how do I know what course credit I will receive at Auburn?
An Advanced Placement (AP) Credit Table is available online. You can see what credit you will receive according to which test you took and the score you earned.
I am interested in taking courses before attending Auburn and/or while attending Auburn, how can I tell what courses will transfer?
A list of transferable courses can be found on our Transfer Equivalency Table.
Can course credit from another institution apply toward my degree at Auburn?
Yes, with approval, course credit from another institution can apply towards your degree progress at Auburn as long as transferred credits do not exceed the following:
- No more than ½ of your degree coursework can be from a 2-year institution.
- No more than ¾ of your degree coursework can be transfer credits.
- No more than ½ of your major courses can be transfer credits.
I have been admitted to Auburn. When can I meet with an advisor to discuss course selection?
Academic advising for true freshmen takes place on Day 2 of Camp War Eagle (Freshmen Orientation). A representative from Professional Flight is present at all sessions.
Academic advising for transfer students takes place during Successfully Orienting Students (SOS orientation).
General Application Questions
What does the application process look like for students applying to be a Professional Flight student? What does a “secondary application” mean?
The application process to apply for a Professional Flight major is a 2-step process.
- First, students will apply to Auburn University as a “Pre-Professional Flight” Major. The university will look at test scores, GPA, transcript, AP scores, extracurriculars, personal statements, etc.
- Once accepted, students will move onto the secondary application. This is a flight-specific application, where students will have the opportunity to express how/when they became interested in aviation, outline any experience they may have, and answer an essay question.
What is the timeline for applying to the university?
To be considered in the secondary round of applications, students must apply within the first 3 Early Action Rounds.
- First Round: Due September 15th
- Second Round: Due October 15th
- Third Round: Due November 15th
This means that all students applying to “Pre-Professional Flight” need to have their applications submitted to the university, at the latest, November 15th, in order to be able to receive their admission decision in time to then move onto the secondary application.
What is the timeline for the secondary application?
The secondary application will be open December 1, 2025 - January 9, 2026.
How will students be able to access the secondary application?
The secondary application will be available via the student portal or via a link sent to the student’s email.
What if I missed the deadline, or I was deferred/not accepted?
Unfortunately, due to the competitive nature of the application process, the School of Aviation is not able to extend any deadlines if they are missed. Students have the option to enroll at Auburn in the fall in a different major and then reapply as an internal transfer. Please note that transfer students must hold a 1st class medical and their Private Pilot Certificate at the time of applying to transfer into Professional Flight (this applies to internal and external transfers).
If a student is deferred, we encourage them to contact admissions to learn what the timeline for their deferral status is. If their decision is released, and they have been accepted within the December 1st-January 9th timeline, they may be able to access the secondary application in their student portal. If their decision is released past January 9th, unfortunately, the Professional Flight applications will be closed.
When will Professional Flight admission decisions be released?
Admission decisions for Professional Flight will be released in early March.
How many students are accepted per year? How many of them are transfers?
Recently, the Professional Flight program was capped. For fall 2025, the School of Aviation accepted 120 incoming freshmen and 20 transfer students for Professional Flight.
General Program Questions
If I am attending Auburn in the fall, when do I need to have my Private Pilot Certificate by?
Students attending Auburn as incoming freshmen in the Fall are required to have their PPL at the latest by August 1st.
How many flight hours will I graduate with?
On average, Professional Flight students graduate with between ~300-400 hours.
What kind of planes do you train with?
Our fleet consists of G1000 Cessna 172s and G1000 Piper Seminoles.
What partnerships does Auburn have?
Auburn has various pathway programs, as listed below:
- Delta Propel
- United Aviate
- Envoy Cadet program
- JetBlue Gateway
- Republic Cadet program
- Frontier
As an incoming freshman, when will I fly?
Professional Flight students will be assigned a MWF or TRS flight block to an instructor at a specific time. Students should anticipate flying within the first 1-2 weeks of the semester.
How do I know what I’ll be doing on a specific flight?
The Professional Flight program follows a Training Course Outline (TCO), which outlines every lesson a student will complete during a specific rating, and what topics/maneuvers will be covered on that lesson (applies to grounds, sims, and flights).
When do freshman get their classes?
Freshmen will register for classes during Camp War Eagle.
Is transportation to/from the airport provided?
Transportation to/from the airport is available via Tiger Transit. This is available to all students and runs every 20 minutes from the library to the Delta Air Lines Aviation Education Building, and back.
Do students have the opportunity to fly year-round?
The Delta Air Lines Aviation Education Building remains open for flight operations during specific days into Thanksgiving and winter break. In addition, students have the option to stay over the summer. In contrast to the MWF/TRS schedule that fall and spring semesters follow for flight blocks, students will fly Monday – Friday during the summer. Training during breaks or over the summer is optional.