Embry Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott

Date: Jun 30 2013
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
Embry-Riddle Prescott seemed like a good choice back in the time (finishing high school and looking for somewhere to go aviation related). Two things I failed to realize is that there are quite a few different universities that offer flight across the country (ASU, San Jose state, UVU, Utah State, Ohio State, UND.. list goes on). I found myself looking at 1 choice due to me being unfamiliar with these other schools and being too wrapped up in the "reputation" of Riddle. After being out, I also realized that though airlines are starting to want a 4 year degree, they don't care what the degree is in, just that you have a 4 year degree. My advise would be to consider all the other schools that offer flight programs and get a 4 year degree in one of those schools in something not aviation related and do the flight training at the same time. Airlines only care about your hours and that you have a 4 year degree of some sort. Could be a 4 year in music for all they care. at Riddle, you limit yourself to only aviation related degrees which is actually kind of a bad thing. If you lose your medical, can't get a job in an airline anymore and no one out there is looking for someone with an aeronautics degree or aeronautical science degree.. the degree is virtually useless if you lose your medical. I would strongly recommend going to a different school or even a normal university such as U of O, or any large state university and majoring in something different and flying at your local FBO on the side. Once you graduate, get a job flight instructing to build time and work your way into the airlines. If you ever lose the medical, you have a fall back plan due to the degree you got that wasn't aviation related. Not only that, but you won't have spent nearly 200,000 on a degree that like i said, is virtually useless. Pros on the school were the class room sizes, one on one with professors, and professionalism.

cons were class room sizes (sometimes you would just want a big class), male/female ratio (they advertise about a 80/20, realistically its more of a 90/10 male to female and you'll wish you went to a large university where girls are all over), and the city (far from everywhere big like phoenix and filled with retired people within).

Job wise, I have had people be impressed with my degree at embry riddle, however they aren't any more impressed than my co-workers that went to different universities. Therefore, spare yourself the pain of living in the middle of prescott and have some human contact at a better university. Giver yourself a degree worth while that won't require a medical incase you ever fall ill, and get your flight time through a different university, or through your local FBO. Your chances of working for the airlines are the same no matter which way you go. College comes once. Do it the fun way