Most of our students pay with a mix of loans, family help, and savings. Tell us a little about your situation and our finance team will help you find the options that fit.
Flight training is a serious investment, and it's one that starts paying you back fast. Starting pay at regional airlines has roughly doubled since 2019, the major airlines no longer require a four-year degree, and Boeing expects the world to need 674,000 new pilots over the next 20 years. Few careers offer that kind of runway.
As you'd expect, we didn't make these up. They come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Boeing's 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook, and published 2026 airline pay scales. Delta, United, American, and Southwest all hire pilots without a four-year degree. Pay varies by airline and seniority.
Starting from zero, or already a Private Pilot? That sets your cost and your timeline.
Tell us a little about you. Our finance team follows up with the lenders that fit.
Most full-time students apply with a parent or partner for better odds and rates.
Finish with your lender and we'll line it all up with your class start date.
Our main lending partner, with a loan built specifically for flight training.
Every family's situation is a little different, so we partner with several lenders. Here's who each one fits best, so you can find yours faster.
| Lender | Best for | Credit check | Cosigner | What it covers | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most students starting full-time training | Credit review when you apply | Optional. Can help approval and rate. | Tuition and housing | Apply for the Sallie Mae Smart Option loan (opens in a new tab) | |
| Parents and family who want to borrow for the student | Reviews the parent or family member's credit | Not needed. The parent is the borrower. | Education costs for the student | Learn more about the Sallie Mae Parent Loan (opens in a new tab) | |
 Income-based repayment |
Students who want payments tied to what they earn after training | Credit review when you apply | Ask our finance team | Training costs. Payments adjust with your income. | Learn more about Edly (opens in a new tab) |
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Students who want to defer payments, or pay interest only while working as a CFI | Credit review when you apply | Recommended. A co-borrower with income helps full-time students qualify. | Full program, checkrides, and housing | Apply with Stratus Financial (opens in a new tab) |
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Covering part of the cost, with a quick decision | Credit review when you apply. Decision in about 1 business day. | Usually needed. A cosigner with income during training. | Up to $20,000, repaid over up to 84 months | Apply with AOPA Finance (opens in a new tab) |
 Home equity line of credit |
Families who own a home and want some of the lowest rates available | Through the lender. Secured by home equity. | Not needed | Flexible. You decide how to use it. | Contact South Bay Equity Lending (opens in a new tab) |
About rates and monthly payments. Rates depend on a few things, with credit history being the big one. Borrowers with a satisfactory credit history tend to do best, and applying with a cosigner usually means higher approval rates. The quickest way to see where you stand is to request pre-qualification and let our team walk you through it.
If you or someone in your family has a 529 education savings account, those funds may go toward your program. A lot of families don't realize this. Rules vary by state and account type, so it's worth a quick look.
Most families combine a few of these. We'll help you put the pieces together.
Moving across the country, finishing your service, or starting from scratch? Here's how paying for training works for you.
Coming from out of state? Sallie Mae and Stratus can cover both tuition and housing, so you're not juggling two bills while you train in Southern California.
Ask about housing options
VA education benefits are accepted at all of our campuses. Our team will help you with the benefit paperwork so you can get started without the runaround.
Learn more about VA benefits
Everyone starts somewhere. Zero-time students take the full 12-month program. Already hold your Private Pilot certificate with 80 or more hours? Your program is shorter and costs less. Financing works the same either way.
See program pricingTraining is full time, so most students don't have a steady income while they're here. That's completely normal, and it's exactly what a cosigner is for.
Ask us about cosignersSomeone who signs the loan with you and agrees to cover payments if you can't. You're still the one who repays it.
Lenders look at income and credit history. A cosigner with both can mean a better chance of approval and often a better rate.
A parent, spouse, partner, or another family member with good credit and a steady income during your training.
One full-time program takes you from your very first flight all the way to flight instructor, with a real path to the airlines from there.
For both programs, FAA knowledge test fees, checkride fees, and some equipment are extra.
Build hours as a CFI here, then move on through our SkyWest partnership with guaranteed interviews.
Expedited checkrides mean no waiting around for a testing slot.
Every flight comes with a Navi AI debrief, so you keep learning after you land.
Sallie Mae student and parent loans, Edly, and pre-qualification with no impact on your credit.
Fly 5 days a week in a structured, full-time program.
Southern California weather and busy airspace build sharper skills, faster.
Train with a cohort that starts and finishes together, backed by instructors and alumni mentors.
60+ trainers with glass cockpits, Garmin avionics, and in-house maintenance.
Eligible Sling students get direct access to SkyWest's Pilot Pathway Program and its partnership benefits. Build your hours as a CFI at Sling, then move on to SkyWest with a guaranteed interview and up to 2 years of seniority.
Training partner
Sling graduates are flying for major airlines, regionals, and cargo carriers today, and the list keeps growing.
Send us a few details and our finance team will get back to you with next steps, the right lender links, and answers to anything you're wondering about.
Everything is optional except your name and how to reach you.
Someone from our finance team will get back to you at the email you gave us with your options and the lender links that fit your situation.
Need to talk sooner? Call us at +1-424-250-0648.
While you're deciding, a discovery flight is the best way to see the school. You'll fly with an instructor and can go over financing with us in person.
Rates depend on a few things, mostly credit history. Borrowers with a satisfactory credit history get the best results, and applying with a cosigner usually means higher approval rates. Request pre-qualification and our team will help you see where you stand.
That depends on how much you borrow, your rate, the loan term, and whether you defer payments during training. It's different for everyone, so our finance team will walk through real numbers with you once you've pre-qualified.
They work differently. Sallie Mae is a flight school student loan that can cover tuition and housing, and you can add a cosigner to strengthen your application. Edly offers income-based repayment, so your payments adjust with what you earn after training. Plenty of students look at both, and we're happy to help you compare.
Not always, but most full-time students use one. Lenders look at income, and it's hard to hold a steady job while training full time. A cosigner with good credit and income can improve your chances of approval and your rate.
Sending us a pre-qualification request doesn't affect your credit at all. Lenders review credit when you formally apply, and our team will tell you what to expect before you do.
Yes. Sallie Mae and Stratus can both cover housing along with tuition, which helps a lot if you're moving here from out of state.
Yes. VA education benefits are accepted at all of our campuses, and our team will help you with the benefit paperwork.
Generally, no. Financing isn't available to international students, so most self-fund through savings or family support. Our international team can help you plan the full cost.
You may be able to. Rules vary by state and account type. Our 529 guide explains how it works.
Book a free discovery flight and request pre-qualification the same week. You'll know how training feels and how you'll pay for it.
Rather talk now? Call +1-424-250-0648