Scholarships for Future Aviators

Sarah Sinopoli, Arrowleaf Photography

Your guide to funding your flight training experience.

Pursuing a career in aviation is a wild and rewarding journey, but it can also come with financial challenges. We want students to know that there are pathways to help fund their training. Scholarships can significantly reduce costs and make aviation school more accessible for many aspiring pilots.

This guide highlights some of the best funding opportunities available and shares a story from one of our students who secured an impressive amount of scholarship support!

Our Partnership With TVCC

For students pursuing helicopter training, Silverhawk Aviation Academy partners with Treasure Valley Community College at their Caldwell campus. This partnership opens the door to a wider range of traditional financial aid opportunities.

Loan Options

Through TVCC, students can apply for federal and private student loans, grants, and numerous scholarships that would not otherwise be available due to Silverhawk’s non accredited status.

VA Benefits

Veterans enrolled through TVCC can use VA benefits that cover up to 100 percent of helicopter training costs, offering a fully funded pathway for eligible service members transitioning into aviation.

Tyrel’s Scholarship Success

One of our helicopter students, Tyrel, earned an incredible $28,000 in scholarships, which may very well be a record here at Silverhawk Aviation Academy or at least the highest amount we know of. Outside of training, he works as a horse farrier and puts those earnings toward his living expenses and day-to-day needs. Tyrel is also part of our Hawk Housing community, which gives him a home close to campus and helps him save even more. He was kind enough to share some advice for future scholarship applicants:

"Take your time with applications and treat each one like a resume. Once you have completed three or four of the more tedious ones, it becomes much easier to modify and adapt them for other opportunities. I also recommend looking at smaller businesses because they are often more likely to give you a real chance.

Personally, getting this opportunity was a huge blessing. Without it, I probably would not have been able to come for another year. It made all the difference." - Tyrel

We are incredibly proud of Tyrel and hope his story motivates other students to pursue the opportunities available to them!

Where to Find Aviation Scholarships

There are many organizations that support future helicopter and fixed wing pilots. Many of these scholarships are available to students at non accredited schools, like Silverhawk.

Scholarships for Trade and Technical Programs

• mikeroweWORKS Foundation

• Horatio Alger Association Career and Technical Scholarships

• Imagine America Foundation

• American Helicopter Museum and Education Center Scholarships

Scholarships for Women in Aviation

• Women in Aviation International

• The Ninety Nines

• Whirly Girls International

• Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance

Scholarships for All Aviators

• AOPA Foundation

• Experimental Aircraft Association Scholarships

• Helicopter Association International Scholarships

• FAA Aviation Workforce Development partner opportunities

• Local aviation groups, flight clubs, credit unions, and community foundations

Local and Community Based Opportunities

Small businesses and local organizations are often overlooked but can be very accessible. These groups may receive fewer applications and may be more willing to support motivated students. Examples include local community foundations, rotary clubs, chambers of commerce, and STEM focused businesses.

Additional Tips to Make Finding Scholarships Easier

1. Get Organized Early

Create a scholarship calendar to track deadlines, especially since many aviation scholarships open in late summer and close between October and March. Staying organized helps prevent last-minute rushes and missed opportunities.

2. Prepare a Reusable Application Packet

Put together a ready-to-use folder that includes a resume, aviation-focused cover letter, transcripts, flight hour logs, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Having these materials prepared makes it easier to apply for multiple scholarships quickly (and jobs!).

3. Gather Strong Support

Ask instructors, mechanics, or staff for recommendation letters well in advance. Keeping a log of achievements, volunteer work, and flight progress will also help strengthen applications and make writing essays easier.

4. Explore Local and Specialized Opportunities

We said it before and will say it again. Apply locally. Community foundations, aviation businesses, rural organizations, credit unions, and local aviation clubs often have less competition.

5. Cast a Wide Net

Apply even if you doubt your chances. Many aviation scholarships receive far fewer applications than you might expect. Use free scholarship search tools to broaden your options, and get involved in the aviation community to build relationships and strengthen your applications. Those connections can also open doors later on—you’re always networking when you’re talking with fellow aviators!

Final Thoughts

We believe financial limitations should never keep a motivated student from pursuing a future in aviation. With our partnership through TVCC, VA-funded pathways, and a wide range of scholarship opportunities, there are more ways than ever to make training achievable.

Working part time can help cover living expenses and essentials (including that all-important headset), though we know that isn’t possible for everyone.

If you need help with scholarship applications or navigating financial options, our admissions team is always here. Some scholarships are essentially 500 dollars for an hour of effort, and that’s hard to beat! Be sure to follow our newsletter and social media for the latest opportunities and deadlines. Good luck!