Aviation degree · Ellensburg, WA

What an aviation degree at Central Washington University costs

A 4-year bachelor's (BS) program. Tuition, room & board, and flight fees, each from the school's own published pages, summed into an all-in estimate. Flight fees are billed separately and on top of tuition. This is a planning estimate, not the school's quote.

PilotBound all-in estimate

$176K

In-state, all-in

$253K

Out-of-state, all-in

Unlocks the 1,000-hour airline minimum

Tuition + room & board (4years) + whole-program flight fees. Sourced figures summed, not the school's quoted package. Tuition changes yearly.

The numbers, with sources

Tuition (in-state)
$40,448
$10,112/yr × 42026-27Source

In-state tuition $7,716 + mandatory fees $2,396.

Tuition (out-of-state)
$117,748
$29,437/yr × 42026-27Source

Out-of-state tuition $27,041 + mandatory fees $2,396.

Room & board
$65,120
$16,280/yr × 42026-27Source

Housing $9,718 + food $6,562.

Flight training (whole program)
$70,280
2025-26Source

Based on FAA-minimum hours; real cost typically runs higher.

PPL, IR, CPL, and CFI (CWU's degree does not train CFII or MEI). Published per-course fees; hours beyond the syllabus billed hourly, so plan higher.

All-in (in-state)
$175,848

See how this stacks up against Part 61, Part 141, an academy, and a 2-year degree.

Compare the paths

Figures are Central Washington University's own published tuition, room & board, and flight fees, summed by PilotBound into a planning estimate. They are not the school's quoted program price, and they will differ from a student's actual cost. Flight fees are pay-as-you-go and vary with a student's pace. Confirm current numbers with the school. The 1,000-hour airline minimum comes from a qualifying degree under 14 CFR 61.160. PilotBound is not affiliated with Central Washington University. Disclaimer & removal policy.

Primary sources: catalog.acalog.cwu.edu·cwu.edu