Career training loans can fund non-degree aviation programs when savings and scholarships don’t cover everything. Lenders like Sallie Mae and College Ave market loans for professional programs—including many flight schools—so long as your school and program are eligible and can certify your cost of attendance (COA).
What counts as an eligible program?
- Professional/certificate programs at participating schools (not just colleges). This often includes Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools that a lender recognizes or can onboard.
- Your school typically must certify enrollment and COA before funds are released. Disbursements often go directly to the school.
- Covered costs usually include tuition/ground school, aircraft rental/instructor time, checkride and exam fees, and some required equipment (varies by lender).
- If a lender doesn’t support your school, ask which lenders your school works with, or consider specialized aviation financing (separate from “student loans”).
Typical documentation you’ll be asked for
You (and cosigner, if used) should be ready with:
- Identity: Government ID and SSN/ITIN for identity verification and a hard credit pull.
- Income/ability to repay: Recent pay stubs, W-2s, and/or tax returns (more detail if self-employed).
- Cosigner details: Personal info, consent, and income docs. Many students use a cosigner to qualify or unlock better rates.
- School/program verification: Enrollment status, program type (e.g., Airline Career/Zero-to-Hero), start/end dates, and school certification of COA.
- Cost breakdown: Itemized estimates for tuition/fees, aircraft time, instructor hours, DPE/checkride, written exams, required headset/EFB/software, and a small buffer.
- Citizenship/residency: U.S. citizens and permanent residents can usually apply; non-citizens typically need a U.S. cosigner and to attend school in the U.S. (policies vary).
How lenders decide
Approvals usually depend on three checks:
- Borrower/cosigner credit & income meet underwriting standards.
- School/program eligibility is confirmed and the COA is certified.
- Loan amount matches eligible expenses; lender sets disbursement rules.
Fast pre-application checklist
- Confirm your flight school appears in the lender’s system and that your specific program is eligible.
- Build a realistic COA worksheet (tuition, aircraft, ground, exams, equipment, buffer) and ask the school to verify it.
- Line up a cosigner early if your credit is thin; collect their income docs.
- Organize a digital folder with ID, income, enrollment verification, and COA so you can apply to multiple lenders efficiently.
Bottom line: Organize once, verify current lender policies on their websites, and compare total cost and flexibility across at least two or three lenders—starting with Sallie Mae and College Ave—before you borrow.
