Flight School Options in New York

There are many flight schools in the state of New York, but which ones are the best flight schools in New York? Find out what it takes to become a pilot, how much it costs, and which New York flight schools are the best for you. Read on to learn specific details about each of the top flight schools in New York and what assistance is available for aspiring pilots! 

The best aviation programs in the state of New York offer the most robust training programs available to prepare you for a career in the aviation industry. Below is our pick of flight schools in New York, complete with tuition costs, financial aid information, and program details. Find out which New York flight school is the best fit for you! 

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is a private college located in East Elmhurst (Queens), New York, specializing in aeronautics and engineering programs. Founded in 1932, Vaughn College offers bachelor’s degrees, associate's degrees, and certificates in aviation and engineering disciplines. The school was ranked in 2020 as the number one college in the nation in upward mobility by the New York Times among over 2000 colleges and universities. 

Location: 86-01 23rd Ave. Flushing, New York 11369

Tuition & Fees: 

Financial Assistance: 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

Endorsements: None

School Size: Vaughn College has a student population of 1,542 and a 14:1 Student/Teacher ratio. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

See all Flight Colleges and University's at FLYING's Flight School Guide

Cornell University is an Ivy League, private research college located in Ithaca, New York. Aerospace Studies at Cornell are geared towards preparing future Air Force officers but offer opportunities to become pilots, navigators, or air battle managers. Preparation for numerous opportunities in the Air Force are a huge benefit of their Officer Education Program. 

Location: Ithaca, NY 14850

Tuition & Fees: 

Financial Assistance: 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

Endorsements: None

School Size: Cornell University has a student population of 25,593 and a 9:1 Student/Teacher ratio. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Farmingdale State College is a public school located in East Farmingdale, New York, and is part of the State University of New York. The Aviation Department can help you become a pilot or prepare you for a career on the ground in the diverse and growing industry of aeronautics and aviation.  Ranked as a top flight school in New York, Farmingdale offers two bachelor's degrees and three aviation minors. 

Location: 2350 Broadhollow Road Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Tuition & Fees: 

Financial Assistance: 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

Endorsements: None

School Size: Farmington State College has a student population of 9,970 and a 19:1 Student/Teacher ratio. 

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

See the full ranking on the FLYING Flight School Guide

York College is a public school located in Jamaica, Queens, New York, and is part of the City University of New York. York College is ranked #33 in Regional Colleges North based on several academic factors. 

The CUNY Aviation Institute offers students an education in technical and business aspects of the industry. Partnerships with The Port Authority of New York, as well as New Jersey and several major airlines provide internships and career opportunities for CUNY graduates. 

Location: 94-20 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11451

Tuition & Fees: 

Financial Assistance: 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length:

Endorsements: None

School Size: CUNY York College has a student population of 7,529 and a 19:1 Student/Teacher ratio.

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Schenectady County Community College is a public two-year community college and is part of the State University of New York system. Founded in 1967, they are consistently ranked as a top flight school in New York, offering several transfer degree and career programs to prepare yourself for a career in the aviation industry. 

Location: 78 Washington Ave, Schenectady, NY 12305

Tuition & Fees: 

Financial Assistance: 

Accreditation: Yes

Program Length: 

Endorsements: None

School Size: Schenectady County Community College has a student population of 5,231 and a 34:1 Student/Teacher ratio.

Job Placement: Yes

Virtual Learning: Yes

Flight school training in New York works just like it does in the other 49 states, as flying is federally regulated by the FAA. A pilot’s license is a certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, which certifies that one has passed all requirements and testing to obtain his/her pilot’s license. 

To begin pilot training, a student license is required. One must be 17 years of age and pass a basic health check to get their student license and begin working with a certified flight instructor to build flight hours and knowledge towards obtaining your professional pilot license. 

One must be 18 years of age to earn his/her professional pilot license (PPL). The next step to becoming a paid pilot is to earn your Commercial Pilot License (CPL), which allows you to transport goods, however, an Airline Transport License is required to fly passengers. 

This license takes about 5 years to earn but the opportunities are vast and lucrative for Captains and First Officers who have their (ATL). Along your journey towards your desired license, there are many opportunities for less experienced pilots to gain flight hours as you build towards earning a higher income. 

There are many flight schools in New York to choose from across the state. Below are some averages and total figures that will help you to gain a better overall understanding of what to collectively expect from the flight schools in New York.  

There are 64 flight schools, in addition to 7 aviation colleges in the entire state of New York. There is a large portion of flight schools located in the Farmington and New York City areas with the remainder peppered throughout the northern part of the state. 

Flight schools in New York have an average range of 15-25 students per class for ground courses, however, flight instruction is administered one-on-one. 

The average tuition rate for flight schools in New York is between $15,000 and $19,000 to fully complete your flight training and obtain your pilot’s license. The tuition ranges in costs due to the numerous variables factored when earning your professional pilot license.

Students in New York graduate with an average loan amount of $6,611 per year. This can be lowered by applying for all available grants and scholarships. 

Most students will receive anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 in scholarships annually. This amount varies depending on how much work the student puts into the application process. There are many scholarships that go unclaimed every year due to a lack of research by the student. 

Top flight schools in New York develop partnerships with aviation companies and airlines in an effort to maximize student job placement upon graduation. Specific figures of jobs placed are difficult to accurately obtain, however, you will want to request job placement figures and employment ratios with any prospective flight schools. 

Upon graduating from pilot training and obtaining your professional pilot license, you will naturally be interested in opportunities to gain more experience as a pilot as you work towards your next license. Listed below are some of the largest employers and average salaries for pilots in New York. 

There are 5,430 airline pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer jobs in New York with a mean annual salary of $177,680 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The average salary for a pilot in New York is $83,011 per year, $6,917 per month, or $1,596 per week.

Now that you know the requirements, criteria, and schools to become a pilot,  the next step is choosing which New York flight school is best for you! Your path to becoming a professional pilot cannot be without keeping up with all things aviation. Order your subscription to FLYING Magazine, today, to stay informed of the latest and greatest information pertaining to all aspects of the aviation industry!