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Question & Answer

General Program Information

What degree is being offered?
Students studying aviation at Coe can choose between a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an aviation management concentration or a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an aviation management & flight operations concentration. The aviation management & flight operations concentration is designed for students who aspire to be professional pilots, as it includes flight training for various pilot certificates and ratings. The aviation management concentration is designed for students who want to work in the aviation industry in a role other than piloting.

What is the aviation management & flight operations program’s capacity in terms of students?
The program will accept as many as 24 students per cohort. We anticipate future cohorts could have a greater number of students. 

Are the aviation programs accredited by the Higher Learning Commission?
Yes. 

Aviation Terminology

What is the FAA?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the U.S. federal government agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation that manages the country's airspace, including regulating aviation safety, developing air traffic control systems and researching the National Airspace System. The FAA regulates and sets standards for pilot training. 

What is Part 141?
Part 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) is a certification process for flight schools that train professional pilots. The process establishes standardized training methods and requirements, and ensures schools meet prescribed standards for equipment, facilities, personnel and curriculum. The FAA regularly reviews Part 141 schools to ensure they provide quality training, meeting FAA standards.

Part 141 training sets lower minimum flight hours for certificates and ratings (as compared to Part 61 training), allowing most students to complete their training in a shorter period of time. This can lead to substantial cost savings for students. Most Part 141 students work on flight training full time compared to Part 61 students who often need more flexible training because of their careers, jobs or other obligations.  

Does Coe College currently have Part 141 certification?
Coe has Part 141 certification for private pilot, instrument rating, and commercial pilot ground courses. Through our partnership with ATD Flight Systems, students will take Part 141-certified flight courses. 

Admission & Program Requirements

Are there any GPA requirements to be admitted into the program or to graduate from the program? 
All students must apply for admission and be enrolled at Coe College in order to take part in Coe’s aviation programs. Admission to Coe College does not guarantee admission in the aviation management & flight operations program, though. Please see the additional requirements and details below.

For any Coe classes, students must receive a passing grade to continue through the program. Similarly for the flight operations courses, students must receive satisfactory grades on all exams  and stage checks. If the student does not pass the aviation exams and checkrides, they may be eligible to receive an “incomplete,” which gives them a set amount of time to re-test. Students must complete their ground and flight courses and earn the corresponding FAA certificate or rating at each level of flight training before progressing to the next level of flight training. 

What are the requirements for acceptance into the flight program?
To be accepted to the flight program, students must:

  • Hold a current Federal Aviation Administration Medical Certificate prior to soloing in the aircraft.
  • Show proof of U.S. citizenship, typically a valid U.S. passport or an original U.S. birth certificate along with another TSA-approved proof-of-U.S.-citizenship document.
  • Be at least 16 years of age at the time of the first solo flight and at least 17 years old at the time of initial pilot certification.

Do students need a medical certificate prior to enrolling?
All students planning to begin flight training at Coe College are required to hold an FAA medical certificate. Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) are designated by the FAA to issue these certificates following completion of an application and a physical examination. Students are not required to have a medical certificate at the time of enrollment; however, they must present a medical certificate to begin flight training. Securing a medical certificate can take a few weeks to several months, so we strongly suggest students begin the medical certificate process well in advance of their first flight training course. Use the following link to search for an AME in your area: www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator.

  • There are three classes of medical certificates: first, second and third class. 
    • First class certificates are required for pilots exercising the privileges of an airline transport pilot (ATP) rating. 
    • Second class medical certificates are required for pilots exercising the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate. 
    • Third class medical certificates are adequate for initial training purposes. 
  • Note: While a third class medical certificate is a minimum requirement to start the program, we recommend that students who intend to become an airline transport pilot (ATP) obtain a first class medical certificate to ensure eligibility for the ATP certificate.

Students may be denied a medical certificate because of medical and/or legal issues in the past. Every student should determine their eligibility for medical certification before beginning their education for an aviation-related career. If medical or legal issues need to be addressed, expect delays in obtaining a medical certificate. Students are required to possess a medical certificate to begin flight training, so get a medical certificate early to avoid delays.

A common limitation is a color vision restriction that restricts pilots from flying at night or under a signal gun control. These problems need to be identified early to determine eligibility for flight training.

Can students balance this program while also being a student-athlete?
Yes, provided that students are organized and are able to manage busy schedules well. There occasionally may be times when sports competitions and scheduled classes conflict. Students would need to communicate with their coaches and their course instructors to determine what to do in these situations.  

Are students responsible for finding their own transportation to the airport for flight school sessions?
Yes, students will need their own transportation to and from Coe's hangar at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID). Cedar Rapids public transportation does offer a bus route to the airport, and all Coe students are able to ride the bus for free with valid Coe identification. The airport is located about 10 miles from Coe's campus.

Can students seeking admission as an aviation management & flight operations student transfer coursework to Coe?
Yes, it is possible for students to transfer previously completed coursework into Coe's program. Transfer students should work through Coe's Admission Office if they have specific questions about transfer credit. The coursework will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, following established Coe policies.

  • The previous coursework, whether taken in high school through a dual-credit program with a regionally accredited college/university or as a college student at a regionally accredited college/university, might transfer as general education equivalents, major/concentration equivalents or credit toward graduation. 
  • If the completed coursework includes any courses required for Coe's programs in aviation, however, policies specific to our aviation programs will impact what Coe will accept in transfer. Generally speaking, the number of business and aviation management courses accepted in transfer toward the degree will be limited. In addition, students in the aviation management & flight operations program will be expected to complete all flight operations courses beyond private pilot at Coe. 
  • Private pilot credit will be accepted only after the student has a private pilot license (PPL). Students must hold a valid PPL before starting any higher-level flight operations courses at Coe.

Can students take flight courses and earn a Coe degree focused on aviation management & flight operations if they already have an undergraduate degree from another college or university?
Yes, those who already have a completed bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school can apply to be a second-degree student at Coe. To earn the degree in business administration with a concentration in aviation management & flight operations, second-degree students would need to complete at least 40% of the major and concentration courses at Coe. Policies related to aviation management and flight operations courses may also affect the number of courses a student would need to take when completing the degree at Coe. The previous coursework of each second-degree applicant will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

Academic Information

What would the first year at Coe look like in this program? 
In year one, aviation management & flight operations students will typically take the introduction to aviation course, private pilot ground and flight lab courses, a first-year seminar, three first-level courses in the business administration major and one or two general education courses. Students pursuing aviation management without flight training will take other courses of interest to them in place of the private pilot courses.

What would a four-year plan at Coe look like in this program? 
Visit the aviation management & flight operations four-year plan webpage for full details. 

What types of flight courses will students take?
Over four years, students will take courses to prepare for a private pilot certificate, an instrument rating, a multi-engine rating, a commercial pilot certificate and a flight instructor certificate. Students must pass the FAA exams at each level prior to continuing on to the next course. Students will be able to fly in the first term of the program and will have flight courses each semester.

  • Private Pilot: These courses teach students to fly. After completing the courses and passing the FAA’s written exam and checkride, students have a private pilot certificate (license). This certificate allows students to fly in good weather during daylight hours, avoiding clouds.
  • Instrument Rating: These courses teach students to fly by relying on the plane’s instruments, rather than only on sight. After earning this rating, students will be able to fly through clouds, in bad weather and at night.
  • Commercial: In these courses, students learn more about aircraft systems, aerodynamics, weather and navigation, as well as learning to finesse flying maneuvers. Earning a commercial certificate allows students to be paid to fly and opens the door to jobs such as agricultural pilot, banner towing, pipeline patrol, traffic reporting, corporate pilot and drone pilot.
  • Multi-engine Rating: In these courses, students learn to fly an aircraft that has two engines. Earning this rating allows students to fly multi-engine aircraft, making them more marketable. It is also a necessary step toward being qualified to fly for passenger airlines.
  • Flight Instructor: These courses prepare students to work as a flight instructor, teaching other people to fly. Working as a flight instructor allows students to quickly gain additional flight hours that are needed to qualify for some corporate jobs and for an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. With a flight instructor certificate, you can log flight hours while training others, reducing the costs of accumulating additional flight hours. See below for more information.

Do students fly in the first term at Coe? 
Yes. In their first term, students can register for a private pilot ground course and a private pilot flight lab course. Training in these courses will prepare students to begin flying during the first term.

In total, how long will it take for students to complete the Coe's aviation program?
Students can complete either the aviation management or the aviation management & flight operations program in four years. Students who wish to become pilots will take flight courses in addition to the bachelor of arts coursework. Students who wish to work within the aviation industry but not as pilots (for example in operations, marketing, sales or management) can forgo the flight operations courses and complete the aviation management concentration to prepare for non-flying roles within the aviation industry.

What sorts of job opportunities are available to aviation management & flight operations students after graduation?
Immediately following graduation, most flight operations students will work as flight instructors in order to accumulate enough flying hours to qualify for an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. Others might work as pilots for aerial imaging, crop dusting, pipeline control, aerial advertising or skydiving companies, for example. An ATP certificate is required to fly for passenger or cargo airlines. To qualify for an ATP certificate, a pilot must meet age and experience requirements, typically 23 years old with a minimum of 1,500 hours of total flight time. However, if students graduate from a four-year college with an FAA-approved degree in aviation, they will be eligible to qualify a restricted ATP at age 21 with 1,000 hours of total flight time -- after passing the ATP knowledge test and practical test. Coe has begun the process of applying for FAA-approval to certify aviation management & flight operations students for reduced flight time. Coe students will likely complete 250-300 flight hours if they complete all of the flight courses at Coe. Students may, however, opt to arrange to earn more flight hours prior to graduation.

Is it possible to double major or pursue a minor while at Coe?
For most students, completing the business administration major with the aviation management & flight operations concentration will leave little room for pursuing a double major or a minor. Students interested in double majoring or completing a minor should talk with their academic advisor in their first term about the feasibility of doing this. Students pursuing the business major with an aviation management concentration without flight training will have more flexibility to double major or pursue a minor.

Cost and Financial

How much will an aviation student pay to attend Coe?
Tuition for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in business administration with a concentration in aviation management is the same as it is for all bachelor degrees at Coe. Students pursuing the degree of Bachelor of Arts in business administration with a concentration in aviation management & flight operations to become certified pilots will accrue additional costs for the flight operations training. The 2025-2026 estimated costs for each year of the four-year flight operations training are listed below. These expenses are based on the FAA's minimum required number of flight hours for each of the certificates and ratings. Additional flight hours are often recommended by flight instructors and would accrue additional expenses.

Estimated Four-Year Flight Operations Training Program Costs (2025-2026)

  • Year 1 - Private Pilot - $11,430
  • Year 2 - Instrument Rating - $12,887
  • Year 3 - Commercial Pilot - $31,543
  • Year 4 (First Term) - Certified Flight Instructor - $11,639
  • Year 4 (Second Term) - Multi-Engine Rating - $6,792

Can a 529 Plan cover flight operations training costs? 
Some plans may have certain restrictions. Students should contact their plan provider to see if their 529 plan can help pay for expenses associated with flight training.

Can students keep their scholarships if they drop out of the flight operations training portion of the program? 
Students can keep the Coe scholarships and grants awarded based on pursuit of an undergraduate degree at Coe. The financial aid offer letter will disclose the annual direct costs (tuition, housing and meal plan) of a student’s undergraduate degree and the associated Coe scholarships and grants. Furthermore, aviation management students will also receive an annual flight training cost addendum that clearly outlines the expenses for flight operations training.