University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

Located in Princess Anne, Maryland, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore is the only four-year aviation program in Maryland. The aviation sciences program it offers has four concentrations. Professional pilot flight and ground training is FAA-approved under Part 141.

Program Highlights

The University of Maryland-Eastern Shore’s aviation department flies out of Salisbury Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (KSBY), a 20-minute drive from the main campus.

The school offers one bachelor’s program that has four concentrations for students to choose from.

• Bachelor of Science
  • Aviation Sciences
    • Professional Pilot
    • Aviation Management
    • Aviation Electronics
    • Aviation Software

The professional pilot program is R-ATP-approved.

The school is a member of both the University Aviation Association and the Aviation Accreditation Board International.

Value

The university is a state school, which allows it to offer students a lower-than-average in-state tuition at just over $4,000 a semester. Out-of-state students will pay more about $9,500. The school is the lowest cost four-year institution in the state. Both base tuitions do not include flight training costs.

Students attending flight school to gain licenses and ratings up to and including certified flight instructor will pay between $50,000-75,000 in flight costs.

The school has a partnered scholarship portal for its students. There they can find and apply for scholarships specific for degree paths. Students can also apply for outside scholarships for aviation students.

Veterans can use benefits like the GI Bill.

The University of Maryland-Eastern Shore provides aviation students with multiple opportunities for internships and pathway programs. They include:

• Local FAA Regional Offices
• Piedmont Airlines
• NASA Wallop Island

Fleet and Facilities

The school offers a traditional fleet of aircraft for flight training that includes:

• Cessna 150s
• Cessna 172s
• Piper Senecas

It also has several FRASCA simulators for students to use.

Campus Life

The university is a small sister school of the larger University of Maryland. It provides many opportunities, including student leadership, clubs and organizations, community service, commuter affairs, intramural sports, and recreation.

Students can choose to live on campus at one of 10 different residential communities or off-campus in Princess Anne, Maryland. Another benefit is that the beach is only about 40 minutes from campus.

The Bottom Line

The University of Maryland-Eastern Shore offers students interested in aviation four different concentrations as a reasonable cost. The small campus atmosphere may be perfect for students looking for less distractions and the advantage of being close to the beach.