Minnesota State University, Mankato
Four-year aviation degree at Mankato Regional Airport.
Costs checkedChecked November 13, 2026 by Samip Shah, CFI, CFII, AGI
At a glance
- A bachelor's degree with flight training, at a public university.
- Graduates can reach the airline minimum at 1,000 hours instead of 1,500.
- 4 years all-in: $215,940 in-state, $254,124 out-of-state.
Basics
| Degree | Bachelor's (BS), four years |
|---|---|
| School | Public |
| Airline minimum | 1,000 hours (restricted ATP) |
| Location | Mankato, MN |
What it costs
Tuition and room & board for 4 years, plus the whole program's flight fees, which are billed on top of tuition. Tuition changes yearly.
- Tuition (in-state)
- $43,440
- $10,860/yr × 42026-27Source
- Tuition and fees for Minnesota residents on the university's cost of attendance. Reciprocity rates apply to some neighboring states.
- Flight training (whole program)
- $117,868
- 2026-27Source
- The sum of the eight flight labs the Professional Flight major requires, on the Fall 2026 through Summer 2027 fee sheet: Private I $10,399 and II $11,330.50, Instrument I $7,678 and II $11,491, Commercial I $21,440.70 and II (multi-engine) $30,019.20, Flight Instructor $20,690 and the Aerosim CRJ700 lab $4,820. Each fee covers the FAA-approved minimum times plus the additional instruction an average student needs, and the checkride and knowledge test where the course ends in one. Training beyond that is paid to North Star Aviation directly.
- All-in (in-state)
- $215,940
Airport
Aerial imagery: USDA NAIP imagery via the USGS National Map
Weather
What counts as a flyable day
Clouds no lower than 3,000 feet and visibility of 5 miles or more (VFR weather) for at least half the hours between 9 am and 5 pm. Hourly observations from the airport's own weather station, 2016 to 2025. Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet ASOS archive, Iowa State University.
Paying for it
Two ways to cover $215,940.
Win what you can first, then borrow only what is left.
- Money you keepScholarships you could apply for43 open to anyone, plus 2 in Minnesota. Top awards reach $22,200.
- Minnesota Pilots Association Aviation Scholarships$3,000 · Open · closes in 139 days
- MNYAF Private Pilot Certificate Program ScholarshipAmount varies · Southern Minnesota · Check dates
- 45
- Money you pay backLenders that cover $215,940Four of the six lenders in our comparison lend this much. That is whether a loan this size is on offer, not whether you would be approved.
- 4 of 6
In the app
Track your flight training at Minnesota State Mankato.
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Questions
How much does an aviation degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato cost?
Summing Minnesota State University, Mankato's own published tuition, room and board, and flight fees over 4 years, PilotBound estimates about $215,940 all in for an in-state student and $254,124 out of state. That is a sum of the school's published figures, not the school's own quoted package price, and flight fees are billed pay-as-you-go on top of tuition rather than as a fixed bill.
How much are flight fees at Minnesota State University, Mankato?
Minnesota State University, Mankato publishes about $117,868 for the whole flight sequence its 4-year bachelor's degree trains (2026-27), separate from and on top of tuition. Flight fees move with your pace and the hours you actually fly, which is why they are the least predictable line in a collegiate aviation budget.
What is tuition at Minnesota State University, Mankato?
Minnesota State University, Mankato publishes about $10,860 per year in-state and $20,406 out of state for 2026-27. Over the 4-year program that is roughly $43,440 versus $81,624, before room and board and before any flight fees. Residency is usually the largest single lever on a collegiate aviation budget.
Does an aviation degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato lower the airline hour requirement?
Yes. Minnesota State University, Mankato's 4-year bachelor's aviation degree is a qualifying degree under 14 CFR 61.160, which lets you hold a restricted ATP at 1,000 hours instead of the standard 1,500. That is the concrete thing the degree buys beyond the credential itself, and it is worth weighing against the tuition and room and board a non-degree path does not carry.
Sources
Tuition, room & board and flight fees are Minnesota State University, Mankato's own published figures, summed by PilotBound. Flight fees are pay-as-you-go and vary with a student's pace. The 1,000-hour airline minimum comes from a qualifying degree under 14 CFR 61.160. PilotBound is not affiliated with Minnesota State University, Mankato. Disclaimer & removal policy.
Primary sources: ed.mnsu.edu· mnsu.edu· mnsu.edu· mnsu.edu
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