Gallatin College Montana State University
Two-year aviation degree in Bozeman, MT.
Costs checkedChecked November 13, 2026 by Samip Shah, CFI, CFII, AGI
At a glance
- An associate's degree with flight training, at a public college.
- Graduates can reach the airline minimum at 1,250 hours instead of 1,500.
- 2 years all-in: $125,366 in-state, $149,456 out-of-state.
Basics
| Degree | Associate's (AAS), two years |
|---|---|
| School | Public |
| Airline minimum | 1,250 hours (restricted ATP) |
| Location | Bozeman, MT |
What it costs
Tuition and room & board for 2 years, plus the whole program's flight fees, which are billed on top of tuition. Tuition changes yearly.
- Tuition (in-state)
- $8,266
- $4,133/yr × 22026-27Source
- Montana residents: $2,066.25 a semester in tuition and fees for 12 credits and up.
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $32,356
- $16,178/yr × 22026-27Source
- Non-residents: $8,089.05 a semester in tuition and fees for 12 credits and up.
- Room & board(estimated)
- $17,100
- $8,550/yr × 22026-27Source
- Gallatin College does not publish a housing figure for this program.
- Flight training (whole program)
- $100,000
- 2026-27Source
- Four flight course fees of $25,000 each in Gallatin's 2026-27 sheet: Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial Flight 1 and Commercial Flight 2, which covers single and multi-engine. Based on average student performance, with Ridgeline Flight School. ForeFlight, scheduling and FAA knowledge test fees are listed separately and not in this figure.
- All-in (in-state)
- $125,366
Paying for it
Two ways to cover $125,366.
Win what you can first, then borrow only what is left.
- Money you keepScholarships you could apply for43 open to anyone, plus 1 in Montana. Top awards reach $22,200.
- Montana Aviation Scholarship Program$1,500 – $4,000 · Open · closes today
- 44
- Money you pay backLenders that cover $125,366Four 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
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Questions
How much does an aviation degree at Gallatin College Montana State University cost?
Summing Gallatin College Montana State University's own published tuition, room and board, and flight fees over 2 years, PilotBound estimates about $125,366 all in for an in-state student and $149,456 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 Gallatin College Montana State University?
Gallatin College Montana State University publishes about $100,000 for the whole flight sequence its 2-year associate'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 Gallatin College Montana State University?
Gallatin College Montana State University publishes about $4,133 per year in-state and $16,178 out of state for 2026-27. Over the 2-year program that is roughly $8,266 versus $32,356, 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 Gallatin College Montana State University lower the airline hour requirement?
Yes. Gallatin College Montana State University's 2-year associate's aviation degree is a qualifying degree under 14 CFR 61.160, which lets you hold a restricted ATP at 1,250 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 Gallatin College Montana State University's own published figures, summed by PilotBound. Flight fees are pay-as-you-go and vary with a student's pace. The 1,250-hour airline minimum comes from a qualifying degree under 14 CFR 61.160. PilotBound is not affiliated with Gallatin College Montana State University. Disclaimer & removal policy.
Primary sources: gallatin.montana.edu· gallatin.montana.edu· montana.edu
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