The Best Resources to Help You Fund Your Flight Training
If you want to fly, there shouldn’t be anything to stop you from getting airborne. While helicopter flight training is an investment, there are multiple resources available that can help you make your dream a reality.
As you explore your options, it’s a good idea to consider every angle, including the place you want to attend school. Understanding which flight program and financial aid option is best for you is necessary, and our team is always here to help where we can.
Internal Scholarships
At Lake Superior Helicopters, our partnership with Lake Superior College enables us to offer scholarships to dedicated students.
Ready for Takeoff Scholarship: Two awards of up to $2,500 for students pursuing our program through our degree-rewarding pathway based on financial need
Cleared for Landing Scholarship: Mid-semester awards given to students who need additional flight time to complete their training
Women Rising Scholarship: Awards of $2,500 each semester for women interested in pursuing a career as a helicopter pilot
Lake Superior College Foundation Scholarships: a variety of scholarships available to our students through our partner college
External Scholarships
There are a variety of external scholarships you can apply for, and it’s a great idea to check for hometown-specific awards as well as any opportunities through organizations you’re a part of.
Other scholarships to explore include:
University Aviation Association Affiliated Scholarships: 13 scholarship options for students
Aero Club Foundation of Washington: scholarship for students living in the Washington, DC area (Check for an Aero Club in your area as well)
AOPA Foundation: 12 scholarship options for students
EAA Adapt to Fly Scholarship: $5,000 award for students with disabilities
EAA Scholarships: 4 scholarship options for students
NBAA Scholarships: multiple opportunities for students beginning or in the middle of their training
National Gay Pilots Association Scholarships: over $150K available to students who are members or allies of the LBTQ+ community
The Ninety-Nines’ Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships: 5 scholarship options for students
Women in Aviation International Scholarships: multiple opportunities for students
Aviation Expo Scholarships: numerous awards totaling $133,700 for students
GAMA Aviation Excellence Award: $2000 scholarship for a high school senior entering flight school
Northwest Data Solutions Aviation Safety Management Scholarship: a $1,000 award twice per year
Whirly Girls Scholarships: multiple scholarships available to female students pursuing helicopter training
Air Force Association Scholarships: 13 scholarship options for students
FAA Grants and Scholarships: numerous scholarship opportunities for students
HAI Scholarships: 4 scholarship options for students
I Hart Flying Foundation Scholarship: award for female students
NCASE Strickler Junior Award: scholarship that requires a nomination
Federal Pell Grant: up to a $5,500 award based on financial need
Loans
Student Loans can help you get the education you want, but they do require a long-term commitment. Before you agree to a loan, it’s best to research the interest rate, deferment plan, and loan terms. Federal Student Aid offers phenomenal resources to help you understand Financial Aid and Loans.
Private loans are granted through a bank, or an organization, not affiliated with the government. Check with your bank to see if you’re eligible for a student loan.
Private Loans:
Federal loans are awarded to students enrolled in a degree program, and the funding comes from the government. All federal loans require the completion of the FAFSA application.
Federal Loans:
VA/GI Benefits (For veterans only)
STUDENT LIFE IN Duluth
Flight school is more than a commitment to a loan; it’s a commitment to a place for a given number of years. Our college is located in Duluth, Minnesota, a port city on Lake Superior in Minnesota right along the border shared with Wisconsin, which is a reasonably affordable place to live. As you complete your training, you’ll be able to keep your cost of living down while you save up money for the future.
Duluth is home to many young professionals and is a great place to build your network. Our city offers a suburban feel without lacking a vast amount opportunities to spend time outdoors.
In 2014 Duluth was named by Outdoor Magazine as the best outdoor town in the United States and in the same year was listed as one of the happiest towns in the United States by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research. From hiking or biking our trails, downhill skiing at our local ski resorts, or taking a surf somewhere along the North Shore - there are many outdoor spaces to explore on your days off. Many of them are easily accessible right within our downtown and beyond.
When you are not spending your time outside, Duluth has a vibrant microbrewery scene and over 400 restaurants to keep you busy during every season. There is truly something for everyone.
The town has multiple opportunities for part-time work when you’re on the ground. Some students choose to apply to our part-time positions within our ground crew to make money to put toward their tuition payments. This is a great opportunity for students to get more comfortable and familiar with our facilities and aircraft beyond their lessons.
The minimum wage in Minnesota is $10.33 an hour, but the cost of living in Duluth falls below the national and state average. On a ranking system that puts the national average at a score of 100, Duluth’s cost of living score received an 85.8. (Minnesota received a 97.2.)
Duluth is found to be a great place to live, work, and study with an affordable cost of living and many area attractions providing endless entertainment throughout your time here. You can learn more about our great city through Visit Duluth, Destination Duluth, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Duluth.
Post-Graduate Opportunities
If your biggest concern around paying for flight school is the return on investment, you don’t need to worry. While many entry-level jobs outside of flight school can be low-paying, there’s a lot of potential for students to earn excellent salaries after a few years of experience in the industry. In fact, all students who complete our program through CFII have received job offers upon graduation.
AOPA has a fantastic interactive tool to help students determine the different licenses they need for the job they want to have.
The average helicopter pilot makes about $98,700 a year, and in our article, “How Much Do Helicopter Pilots Make?” we break down the average salary by industry.
Additionally, the industry is facing a shortage of helicopter pilots, so there’s never been a better time to let your dreams take flight.
If you’re ready to get started, fill out our online form, and a member of our team will be in touch regarding your next steps in joining our program.