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Aviation Can Be Your Future. Become a Flying Sooner.

How to Get Started

Students interested in Professional Pilot-Airplane, Professional Pilot-Helicopter, or Aviation Management-Flying concentrations are encouraged to apply to the University of Oklahoma when the application opens. Interested students can only apply for the fall term.

To Be Accepted, You Must:

Meet admission criteria
Apply
Be admitted
Speak with an advisor and enroll

Tours

We highly recommend you come join us for a tour of the university as well as an information session and tour of our aviation facilities. The School of Aviation hosts information sessions at the Airport Complex on specific Fridays scheduled for your special visits. Consult the OU Admissions and Recruiting web page for specific dates and times.

A helicopter pilot in a cockpit flying over trees and rivers.

Academics

The College of Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences offers a bachelor’s degree with a major in Aviation that can help you achieve your career goals. The Bachelor of Science with a Major in Aviation is designed for students who want to take the first step toward a career in Aviation.

OU offers five concentrations for students to consider:

Process & Timeline

For Professional Pilot and Aviation Management - Flying Applicants

If you’re planning to choose the Professional Pilot or Aviation Management – Flying concentration, you need to apply by the November 1st deadline. Flight major applications are accepted during the fall term application timeframe only. Due to the limited number of flight slots OU has each fall, the demand for one of these slots is great.

O U Aviation students looking at an airplane wing.

For Aviation Management – Non-Flying and Aviation Management – Air Traffic Management Applicants

If you are interested in an Aviation Management – Non-Flying or Air Traffic Management concentration, we encourage you to submit your application to OU for priority admission. These concentrations are not limited by space and are open to all students, including freshmen and transfer students.

Here are just a few reasons why OU is a smart and affordable choice for your aviation degree:

The university meets the FAA requirements for a 1,000-hour R-ATP.
All four of the Aviation Programs Bachelor of Science degree concentrations (Professional Pilot; Air Traffic Management; Aviation Management – Flying; Aviation Management) have been AABI accredited since 2005.
Once accepted into the program, you’ll be able to start flying as soon as possible within the program.
OU partners with several airlines across the country to offer pathway programs. These programs offer students the opportunity to work toward careers with some of the nation’s largest airlines, giving you an opportunity to get into the right seat of a commercial airline sooner.
OU subscribes to the highest standards of international aviation academic rigor, safety, and quality standards.
Each concentration has a strong business focus, preparing students to succeed in the business world of aviation or other related jobs.

Only students accepted into the Aviation Management – Flying Concentration or Professional Pilot Concentration AND get a flying spot will be able to fly. Unfortunately, students in other non-flying aviation or aerospace programs will NOT be able to fly.

We invite you to learn more about the School of Aviation by exploring our academic top-five list.

First-Time Freshmen Application Process Details and Timelines

Incoming freshmen interested in applying to our Professional Pilot—Airplane, Professional Pilot—Helicopter, or Aviation Management – Flying concentration programs must apply to OU during their high school senior year to be considered for a spot within the program. Aviation cannot guarantee up front which semester you will start flying.

Transfer Student Process Details and Timeline

Aviation Flying Waitlist

Because of the limited number of flight slots each fall, as well as the very competitive nature of the process to receive a slot, OU maintains a waitlist for these spaces.

For Freshmen: those who pay their enrollment deposit after the program has reached capacity are notified of how to join the waitlist.
For Transfers: those who complete the commitment process after the program has reached capacity are also notified of how to join the waitlist. The School of Aviation cannot guarantee that any offers of flight slots from the waitlist will be made annually; getting off the waitlist depends on whether eligible students choose later not to accept a flight slot. If space becomes available, you will be contacted by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment (OAR) as they maintain the waitlist. If you have any questions regarding the admission waitlist, please contact their office at admissions@ou.edu or 405-325-2151.

Two O U aviation students walking towards airplanes.

Pilot Candidacy Form

Once accepted into the flight program, your next item of responsibility is to complete the Pilot Candidacy Form. The Pilot Candidacy Form will be sent to accepted applicants electronically.

Tuition & Fees

Fees for Fall 2026 & Spring 2027

Fixed Wing Flight Fees

Course	Course Number	Amount
Primary Flying	AVIA 1222	$13,351
Advanced Flying	AVIA 2231	$11,025
Secondary Flying	AVIA 2341	$10,586
Advanced Flight Maneuvers	AVIA 3111	$1,957
Instrument Flying	AVIA 3572	$12,586
Multi-Engine Flying	AVIA 3581	$8,558
Turbine Transition	AVIA 4313	$12,907
Commercial Flying	AVIA 4552	$11.243
Flight Instructor: Airplane	AVIA 4602	$8,418

An OU aviation student in the cockpit of a Warrior III aircraft.

Fee Increases May Occur Each New School Year

Prices for courses shown are for the minimum FAA hours required in a course syllabus. While fuel surcharges are not intended to be long-term, OU reserves the right to apply fuel surcharges during times of extremes with respect to fuel prices surging beyond forecast costs. Actual flight hours and costs will most likely vary.

*Airplane Overflight

Hours flown beyond the allotted time in the training course outline will be billed to the student at the current rates. These may be found in the latest ‘Safety Practices Procedures Handbook’ located in each student’s FSP account.

A person walking in front of a Warrior III aircraft.

Helicopter Flight Fees

Course	Course Number	Amount
Helicopter Private Ground Stage I	AVIA 1121	$2,275
Helicopter PPL Flying Stage I	AVIA 1131	$17,625
Instrument Ground Rotor Wing	AVIA 3123	$2,800
Instrument Flying Rotor Wing	AVIA 3143	$27,075
Commercial Ground Stage I	AVIA 4111	$2,184
Commericial Flight Stage I	AVIA 4121	$30,767

An OU helicopter pilot at the controls of a helicopter.

Helicopter Fee Increases May Occur Each New School Year

Prices for courses shown are for the minimum FAA hours required in a course syllabus. While fuel surcharges are not intended to be long-term, OU reserves the right to apply fuel surcharges during times of extremes with respect to fuel prices surging beyond forecast costs. Actual flight hours and costs will most likely vary.

*Helicopter Overflight

If a student requires overflight hours, it is billed at the per flight hour cost. Additionally, for overflight hours, there is a $44 per hour charge for instructor pre and post flight preparation.

Overflight Hours

Training Type	Cost
Ground	$59
Simulator	$185
Helicopter Flight	$630

A helicopter pilot looking at the cockpit of a helicopter on a runway.

Air Traffic Control Course Fees

Course	Course Number	Amount
IFR Air Traffic Procedures	AVIA 3313	$426
IFR Air Traffic Procedures	AVIA 3313	$426
En Route Radar Lab	AVIA 4004	$1,960
ATC Tower Simulation	AVIA 4013	$1,667
Tracon Radar Lab	AVIA 4023	$1,667

An OU airplane with an air traffic control tower in the background.