Baylor University
Four-year aviation degree at Waco 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 private university.
- Graduates can reach the airline minimum at 1,000 hours instead of 1,500.
- 4 years all-in: $495,807.
Basics
| Degree | Bachelor's (BS), four years |
|---|---|
| School | Private |
| Airline minimum | 1,000 hours (restricted ATP) |
| Location | Waco, TX |
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
- $271,024
- $67,756/yr × 42026-27Source
- Private; same rate for all residencies. The flat rate for 12 hours or more is $33,878 a semester. Chapel and course fees are billed on top.
- Flight training (whole program)
- $155,895
- 2026-27Source
- Baylor's own total for the six airplane flight courses, Fall 2026 through Summer 2027: Private $35,175, Instrument $35,590, Commercial I $25,585, Commercial II $28,425, CFI $18,870 and CFII $12,250. Each fee is set on the hours Baylor estimates a student takes to finish the course, and actual cost varies with progress and aircraft. Flight fees are billed on top of tuition and count in Baylor's cost of attendance for financial aid.
- All-in
- $495,807
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 $495,807.
Win what you can first, then borrow only what is left.
- Money you keepScholarships you could apply for43 open to anyone. Top awards reach $22,200.No Texas-only awards in the directory yet.
- 43
- Money you pay backLenders that cover $495,807Four 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 Baylor.
Enter the aircraft and instructor rates from Baylor University's flight program when you set up PilotBound, and the app tracks every flight you log against the projection, rating by rating.
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Questions
How much does an aviation degree at Baylor University cost?
Summing Baylor University's own published tuition, room and board, and flight fees over 4 years, PilotBound estimates about $495,807 all in. 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 Baylor University?
Baylor University publishes about $155,895 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 Baylor University?
Baylor University publishes about $67,756 per year in tuition for 2026-27, a single private-school rate that does not change with residency. Over the 4-year program that is roughly $271,024, before room and board and before any flight fees.
Does an aviation degree from Baylor University lower the airline hour requirement?
Yes. Baylor University'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 Baylor University'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 Baylor University. Disclaimer & removal policy.
Primary sources: aviation.ecs.baylor.edu· admissions.web.baylor.edu· admissions.web.baylor.edu· aviation.ecs.baylor.edu
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