AOPA Foundation Flight Training Scholarships
AOPA Foundation · National
What AOPA Foundation publishes
Large umbrella program with hundreds of named awards per year; one application covers all eligible scholarships.
Amounts, dates and eligibility change between cycles. Always confirm on the provider's page before applying.
Applications open October 1, 2026.
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What this award leaves to fund
- This award$250 to $14,000, priced at the ceiling
- $14,000
- Private certificatePilotBound national estimate
- − $18,257
- Left to fund
- $4,300
All six lenders in our comparison lend this much. Stack whatever else you can win first, then price only what is left.
Compare the six lenders →Who this is for
Open to current AOPA members who are residents of the U.S., D.C., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, pursuing sport, private, instrument, commercial, or other aviation training; dedicated awards exist for high school students, women, teachers using AOPA curriculum, and corporate aviation employees. Applying requires paid membership in the host organization; the application itself is free.
How to apply
- Read the full requirements on AOPA Foundation's official page, including the membership requirement. Applying is free.
- Line up the slow pieces early: recommendation letters, transcripts, and any medical or student pilot certificate the provider asks for.
- Write the essay with numbers, not passion: name your certificate goal, your school, your hours so far, and exactly what this award covers. Build your plan so every figure in the essay is real.
Price the school you'll name in the essay
Selection boards fund plans with a school and a number in them. Every figure below is what the school itself publishes, with the source and the date it was checked.
Local flight schools
1168 flight schools across 50 states, with the hourly rates each one publishes.
Accelerated academies
94 zero-to-career academies and the fixed program prices they publish.
Degree programs
47 aviation colleges, with tuition and flight fees summed into one estimate.
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AOPA Foundation Flight Training Scholarships: quick answers
How much is the AOPA Foundation Flight Training Scholarships?
The published award is $250 – $14,000. Individual awards range from $250 to $14,000 across many named scholarships; high school students and teachers have dedicated pools of awards at $12,000 each. One application cycle covers multiple awards (Large umbrella program with hundreds of named awards per year; one application covers all eligible scholarships.).
When is the AOPA Foundation Flight Training Scholarships deadline?
The deadline on the provider's official page is December 30, 2026. Applications open October 1, 2026. Spring cycle Apr 1 to Jun 30, Fall cycle Oct 1 to Dec 31 each year.
Who is eligible for the AOPA Foundation Flight Training Scholarships?
Open to current AOPA members who are residents of the U.S., D.C., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, pursuing sport, private, instrument, commercial, or other aviation training; dedicated awards exist for high school students, women, teachers using AOPA curriculum, and corporate aviation employees. Applying requires paid membership in the host organization; the application itself is free.
How do I apply for the AOPA Foundation Flight Training Scholarships?
Apply for free on AOPA Foundation's official page. There is no application fee, and no legitimate aviation scholarship charges one or asks for your Social Security number. Have your essay, recommendation letters, and any required certificates ready before the window opens.