Parkland Aviation Program Highlighted by Forbes for High-Paying Careers

Forbes highlighted the Parkland College Aviation program this week.

A national media outlet highlighted the Parkland College Aviation program this week.

Forbes' recent story featured associate degrees across the country that students can pursue for high-paying careers, highlighting Parkland's Institute of Aviation's degree among them.

Institute of Aviation Director Wendy Evans said Institute graduates have been able to land rewarding careers that live up to the Forbes mention.

"With an AS in Aviation from Parkland College as well as having completed their required FAA flight hours minimums (R-ATP of 1250 total flight hours), many of our students' first jobs at a regional commercial carrier can expect to make $95,000 to $110,000 in the first year," Evans said. "On the flip side, we have Institute alumni making upwards of $350,000 in compensation. Longevity and captain rank within a single company can potentially add to these numbers as well."

The Institute of Aviation has been around since 1946 with the University of Illinois and since 2014 with Parkland College. A Restricted ATP-approved school, the institute is authorized by the FAA to certify graduates with fewer than 1,500 hours of flight time to obtain their Restricted Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (R-ATP). This certificate allows students to operate as a co-pilot until obtaining the necessary 1,500 hours. Aviation students also benefit from the rigor and quality of the institute's Part 141 FAA-approved curriculum. Besides small class sizes and tuition at a fraction of the cost of four-year schools, Institute of Aviation students also take advantage of opportunities for transfer into other highly regarded aviation programs with Lewis University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Western Michigan University, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. 

Institute alumni fly for all major US airlines and for military, corporate, cargo, and charter organizations worldwide. More than 3,000 Institute of Aviation graduates have gone on to train other pilots as instructors.