NMC Aviation program students with a Cessna Skyhawk used for flight instruction

Aviation Degrees and Certificates

An NMC Aviation program instructor and student in the cockpit of one of the program's planes

An NMC Aviation program instructor holds a small drone while a student looks on

NMC Aviation program planes lines up on the runway at sunrise

Become a Professional Pilot! It’s a great time to start training for an aviation career — rising salaries, signing bonuses and retention bonuses, travel benefits — and with the pilot shortage expected to continue for the next 10 to 15 years, there have never been more opportunities!

Ratings you can earn: Private (Part 141), Instrument (Part 141), Commercial (Part 141), Multi-Engine, Flight Instructor, Instrument Flight Instructor, Seaplane

What are the top reasons for choosing to do your flight training at NMC?
  • Our small size allows for lots of personal attention
  • Associate and Bachelor degree options
  • Faster track to a professional pilot job
    • All flight training completed in the first two years
    • Start building time sooner, get hired sooner
  • Lower overall costs than other collegiate programs
  • We are VA-approved
  • Beaches, lakes, festivals—enjoy your free time in beautiful Traverse City!

Where do I start? Contact the Aviation Division at (231) 995-2911 or aviation@nmc.edu to get program information and schedule a visit to see for yourself if NMC is the right place for you.

Explore careers related to this program

Articulation Agreements

Course Descriptions

Course Sequence Guides

Program Requirements

 

Tuition and Fees

General Academic Programs

Residency Status

Tuition Rate

In-District ( Grand Traverse County residents) Tuition

$122.00 per contact hour

In-State ( other Michigan counties) Tuition

$261.00 per contact hour

Out-of-state Tuition

$340.00 per contact hour

International Tuition

$383.00 per contact hour

General Fee for all residencies:

Other fee of $33.00 per contact hour is a general fee covering a portion of costs for technology, orientation, placement, career testing, Student Government Association, and other student service activities.

$33.00 per contact hour

Cost of Attendance

Aviation Programs Annual (Fall/Spring) Cost *

Costs

In-District

In-State

Out-of-State

International

Tuition and Fees

$39,730

$43,900

$46,270

$47,560

Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment

$1,013

$1,013

$1,013

$1,013

Living Expenses: On-Campus Housing and Food

$10,200

$10,200

$10,200

$10,200

Transportation

$1,000

$1,900

$3,000

$3,000

Miscellaneous Personal Expenses

$500

$500

$500

$500

Federal Student Loan Fees

$120

$120

$120

$120

$52,563

$57,633

$61,103

$62,393

* Flight fee costs are included in tuition and fees, and this is an estimated amount for financial aid for fall and spring only. Please refer to the application materials for more information on flight charge ranges.

Note: For more information on how COA component estimates are calculated, see the bottom of the Tuition and Fees page.

Enrolled students can find their own calculated Cost of Attendance in NMC Self-Service under Financial Aid. Others can use the Net Price Calculator to estimate the total annual cost of attending NMC based on their program and enrollment plans, along with financial aid eligibility.

Bachelor Degree Options

Davenport University logo

Ferris State University logo

Grand Valley State University logo

NMC Partners With Regional Airlines

NMC Aviation has signed partnership agreements with regional airlines seeking to recruit NMC Aviation graduates for pilot positions. NMC flight students and graduates can take advantage of sponsored opportunities to visit company headquarters, observe training, receiving mentoring, and interview for conditional job offers through Envoy, Republic, ExpressJet, and SkyWest.

Regional Airlines Offer Signing Bonuses

As regional airlines compete for qualified pilot applicants, many airlines are offering signing bonuses for new hires, with some bonuses exceeding $20,000. See the list by looking at "The Grid" in the latest Aero Crew News issue at issuu.com/aerocrewnews »

NMC Veteran Benefits »

Show your NMC Aviation Pride!

Aviation Program Apparel, Gifts & Supplies


In the News:

Taking It Higher: NMC Plots Aviation Program Expansion

THE TICKER
March 26, 2022

Commercial airline pilot shortage reflected by student demand for NMC aviation program

UP NORTH LIVE
Oct 30, 2019

Girls in Aviation Day at NMC encourages youth to explore male-dominated industry

TRAVERSE CITY RECORD EAGLE
Oct 7, 2019

Northern Michigan aviation students navigate male-dominated field

INTERLOCHEN PUBLIC RADIO
July 11, 2019

Local aviatrices to lift off in storied national race

NORTHERN EXPRESS
June 8, 2019

Program to add another Skyhawk as demand for pilots soars

TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
May 23, 2018

Inside the Cockpit at NMC's Aviation Program

MYNORTH.COM
July 1, 2017