Flight School Options in Maryland

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to control an aircraft as you soar over Chesapeake Bay, out across the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, and back up the Maryland shoreline, during a picturesque sunset? Becoming a pilot is both a financial commitment and a time commitment. 

However, there are numerous ways to earn a pilot’s license and there are also various sources of financial aid to achieve your goal of a career in the growing aviation industry. Read on to learn which flight school in Maryland is right for your goals and budget, how to get a pilot’s license in Maryland, and about employment opportunities beyond graduation. 

The best employers hire pilots from the highest quality flight schools. Here's a list of flight schools in Maryland based on criteria such as aviation program, cost of tuition, job placement figures, location, graduation rate, class sizes, and financial aid.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public research university located in Princess Anne, MD. UMES offers the state’s only four-year, bachelor's degree program in aviation and the university has several partnerships to aid in the maintenance of a high placement rate for graduating pilots. 

Part of the University of Maryland system, the UMES aviation program teaches students critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as, the ability to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills to succeed in their new careers. 

Location: 30925 College Backbone Rd. Princess Anne, MD 21853

Tuition & Fees: University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) had an average annual tuition and fees total of $8,724 for MD residents and $19,343 for out-of-state residents for the 2020-21 school year. An additional $11,166 can be added for room and board. 

Financial Assistance: Financial aid to assist with tuition, room, and board, and additional fees are offered at UMES.

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

B.S. Aviation Science - Professional Pilot - 4 years 

B.S. Aviation Science - Aviation Management - 4 years 

B.S. Aviation Science - Aviation Electronics - 4 years 

B.S. Aviation Science - Aviation Software - 4 years 

School Size: UMES has a student population of 2,070 with an average class size of 10 students per classroom. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

The Community College of Baltimore County has three campuses across the county and is a public college. The aviation program at CCBC allows students to take advantage of internships and training in one of the busiest airspaces in the world, between Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. 

Offering six associate degrees in aviation, their flight training program prepares pilots for immediate employment in the commercial aviation field, armed with a commercial pilot’s license and instructor certification. 

Location: 800 South Rolling Rd., Baltimore, MD 21228

Tuition & Fees: 

Annual In-state tuition - $7,292

Annual Room, Board, and Fees - $15,001

Total Annual Costs - $22,293

Financial Assistance: Financial aid to assist with tuition, room, and board, and additional fees are offered at CCBC. 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

School Size: CCBC has a student population of 45,118 with an average class size of 15 students per classroom. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Ocean Aviation Flight Academy is located in the resort area of Ocean City, MD, and has built an excellent reputation for flight training since it started in 2007. The school’s proximity to several large cities creates a plethora of logistical opportunities for student pilots. 

Partnerships allow students to gain valuable experience and they help maximize job placement opportunities upon graduating with a commercial pilot’s license. 

Location: 12724 Airport Rd, Berlin, MD 21811

Tuition & Fees: 

​​* Medical, screening, written tests, flight tests, a chosen airplane for the flight test, and a pilot’s headset aren’t included in the total cost. Additional training is charged hourly. 

** Any additional training needed will be charged at the assigned hourly rate.

Financial Assistance: Ocean Aviation Flight Academy does not accept federal student aid, however, there are flight school-specific scholarships and financing available. 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

School Size: Ocean Aviation Flight Academy has 55 students enrolled with ground classes of 5-10 students and one on one flight instruction. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Navy Annapolis Flight Center is located in Edgewater, MD, and offers certifications in private pilot and commercial pilot training. They also provide instrument rating and multiengine rating. Certified Flight Instructors include former and active-duty naval pilots who served as military flight instructors. NAFC can have you ready for your first solo flight in as little as 8-10 hours of instruction. 

Location: 3090 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037

Tuition & Fees: 

Private Pilot -- $5,120

Commercial Pilot -- $12,500

Instrument Rating -- $6,295

Flight Instructor Certificate - $4,975

Flight Instructor Instrument Certificate -- $2,660

Multi Engine Commercial Certificate -- $3,085

Financial Assistance: 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

Private Pilot -- 35 flight hours and 30 hours of ground classes

Commercial Pilot -- 190 flight hours plus testing

Instrument Rating -- 35 flight hours and 35 hours of ground courses

Flight Instructor Certificate -- 5 flight hours and 40 hours of ground courses

Flight Instructor Instrument Certificate -- 15 flight hours and 10 hours of ground courses

Multiengine Commercial Certificate -- 20 hours of ground courses

School Size: Individual, on-on-one instruction. NAFC takes a personalized, individual approach to pilot training. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

A pilot’s license is the certification required for anyone over the age of eighteen to legally fly an aircraft in the state of Maryland. There are many types of pilot’s licenses, beginning with a student pilot’s license and ranging up to a commercial airline transport pilot’s license. 

By pursuing a higher level of license, opportunities exist for flying larger aircraft and earning a larger income. The cost of flight school to obtain a pilot’s license varies, depending upon the level of license you wish to obtain. The requirements also vary for each level of licensing, in terms of the number of required flight hours, classroom hours, and testing to become certified as a licensed pilot at each level. 

A basic commercial pilot has opportunities to fly cargo missions for numerous organizations, whereas an airline transport pilot can fly passenger planes for major airlines or military outfits, earning a much higher annual salary. The average annual salary for a commercial pilot in Maryland is $119,420 and there are currently 2,280 commercial pilots employed statewide. 

To become a gainfully employed professional pilot, a license must first be earned for the level of pilot you wish to become. 

Choosing the right education path towards your desired license will be based on many factors — i.e. location, cost, the time required, coursework, level of license, and financial aid opportunities, as well as, employment opportunities after graduating from a flight school in Maryland. 

Currently, there are 18 flight schools in Maryland and 4 aviation colleges in the state to choose from for your aviation education. The flight schools and aviation colleges are, fairly, evenly spread throughout the state, with a small cluster of schools in Baltimore and towards Washington D.C.

The average number of students per classroom at a flight school in Maryland is 19 in ground classes. Flight instruction is conducted on a 1:1 ratio -- (1) Certified Flight Instructor per (1) student pilot. 

In the 2020-2021 school year, Maryland schools had an average in-state tuition of $8,373  and average out-of-state tuition of $20,319. 

The average loan amount or student debt at Maryland schools is $43,219 per student. 

The average scholarship amount for schools in Maryland is $2569 per student

It is recommended that you choose a flight school in Maryland that offers jobs to its graduating pilots. This will help to almost guarantee a job post-graduation. The position will also provide opportunities to build more flight hours towards your next role or pay scale. 

Maryland has the highest median income in the nation despite its smaller land area. The employment opportunities for commercial pilots aren’t as plentiful as they are in larger states, however, several aviation companies employ pilots in the state of Maryland. 

Maryland employed 280 commercial pilots in 2020 at an annual average salary of $119,420. 

The average salary for a commercial pilot in Maryland is $119,420 per year — which works out to $9,952 per month, or $2,297 per week. 

Maryland flight schools offer several paths towards your goal of becoming a professional pilot. The current shortage of commercial pilots in the United States opens up many doors for future aviation professionals. 

The requirements to become a professional pilot, the best flight schools in Maryland, and the commitments of time and costs are knowledge points you now possess. Choose the best flight school for you and answer your calling to become a professional pilot. 

Continue your education with a FLYING Magazine subscription today! Flying Magazine contains useful information, updated news, interviews, and priceless tips/tricks for you, as you navigate your path through the aviation industry. The time is NOW!