Best institutions to study Remote Aircraft Pilot
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to fly unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for commercial, professional, or personal use, and qualifies individuals to sit for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating knowledge examination.
26 U.S. institutions graduated 177 Remote Aircraft Pilot students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 49.0109, a specialization of Air Transportation (CIP 49.01).
About Remote Aircraft Pilot programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to fly unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for commercial, professional, or personal use, and qualifies individuals to sit for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating knowledge examination. Includes instruction in principles of unmanned aircraft system design and performance; aircraft flight systems and controls; airway safety and traffic regulations; and governmental rules and regulations pertaining to piloting unmanned aircraft.
See also: 36.0207 - Remote Aircraft Pilot (Personal).
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Remote Aircraft Pilot program, under the Air Transportation field, is designed for individuals interested in operating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for various applications, including commercial, professional, or personal use. This program equips students with the technical knowledge and skills necessary to obtain the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with a small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating.
Students will gain instruction in unmanned aircraft system design and performance, aircraft flight systems and controls, airway safety and traffic regulations, and governmental rules related to piloting unmanned aircraft. This comprehensive curriculum prepares graduates for successful careers in the field.
Credentials awarded
What Remote Aircraft Pilot graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of less than 12 weeks71 graduates / yr · 7 institutions40%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year68 graduates / yr · 15 institutions38%
- Bachelor's degree17 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.6%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.5%
- Associate's degree8 graduates / yr · 5 institutions4.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.8%
Graduates over time
Remote Aircraft Pilot completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 95 |
| 2022 | 91 |
| 2023 | 136 |
| 2024 | 118 |
| 2025 | 177 |
CIP 49.0109 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 26 institutions for Remote Aircraft Pilot, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aims Community College Greeley, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 20 | 40% | — | — |
| 2 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 48% | — | — |
| 3 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 58% | — | — |
| 4 | Oakton College Des Plaines, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 17 | 37% | — | — |
| 5 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, NDPublicBachelor's | 17 | 60% | — | $46,193 |
| 6 | Parkland College Champaign, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 32% | — | — |
| 7 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 43% | — | — |
| 8 | Bismarck State College Bismarck, NDPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 9 | 47% | — | — |
| 9 | Montana Technological University Butte, MTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 8 | 58% | — | — |
| 10 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Daytona Beach, FLPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 21% | $21,266 | $54,827 |
| 11 | Mid - Del Technology Center Midwest City, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 70% | — | — |
| 12 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, NDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 55% | — | — |
| 13 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MOPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 4 | 21% | — | — |
| 14 | Carroll Community College Westminster, MDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 4 | 39% | — | — |
| 15 | Morgan Community College Fort Morgan, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 45% | — | — |
| 16 | Sauk Valley Community College Dixon, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 3 | 49% | — | — |
| 17 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 49% | — | — |
| 18 | Park University Parkville, MOPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 19 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 59% | — | — |
| 20 | Pueblo Community College Pueblo, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 31% | — | — |
| 21 | Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MIPublicAssociate's | 1 | 25% | — | $37,988 |
| 22 | Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing, NJPublicAssociate's | 1 | 30% | — | — |
| 23 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Las Cruces, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 19% | — | — |
| 24 | Redlands Community College El Reno, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 35% | — | — |
| 25 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 62% | — | — |
| 26 | Columbia Gorge Community College The Dalles, ORPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 29% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Air Transportation field (CIP 49.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 17 states
Where Remote Aircraft Pilot graduates come from. Each state links to all Air Transportation programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 4 | 53 | William Rainey Harper College20 / yr |
| North Dakota | 3 | 31 | University of North Dakota17 / yr |
| Colorado | 3 | 24 | Aims Community College20 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 17 | Southern Crescent Technical College17 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 11 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology11 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 8 | Montana Technological University8 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 7 | Mid - Del Technology Center6 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 7 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide7 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 6 | Saint Louis Community College4 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 4 | Carroll Community College4 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 2 | Arkansas Tech University2 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 2 | University of Wyoming2 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Northwestern Michigan College1 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1 | Atlantic Cape Community College1 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana1 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 1 | South Dakota State University1 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | Columbia Gorge Community College1 / yr |
Other Air Transportation specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Air Transportation (CIP 49.01).
- Aeronautics/CIP 49.0101
Aviation/ Aerospace Science and Technology 6,507 graduates / yr89 institutions - Airline/CIP 49.0102
Commercial/ Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 2,557 graduates / yr105 institutions - Aviation/CIP 49.0104
Airway Management and Operations 2,098 graduates / yr72 institutions - Air Traffic ControllerCIP 49.0105232 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Air TransportationCIP 49.0199218 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Airline Flight AttendantCIP 49.0106partial data70 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Flight InstructorCIP 49.0108partial data36 graduates / yr5 institutions
Common questions
What is the duration of the Remote Aircraft Pilot program?+
The program offers various awards, including options that can be completed in less than 12 weeks or at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What certification will I receive upon completion?+
Graduates will be qualified to sit for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with a small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating.
What types of skills will I learn?+
You will learn about unmanned aircraft system design, flight systems, safety regulations, and governmental rules pertaining to piloting unmanned aircraft.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 26 colleges in the U.S. offering the Remote Aircraft Pilot program.
What is the CIP code for Remote Aircraft Pilot?+
Remote Aircraft Pilot is CIP 49.0109 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Air Transportation (CIP 49.01). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to fly unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for commercial, professional, or personal use, and qualifies individuals to sit for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating knowledge examination. Includes instruction in principles of unmanned aircraft system design and performance; aircraft flight systems and controls; airway safety and traffic regulations; and governmental rules and regulations pertaining to piloting unmanned aircraft.
How many institutions offer Remote Aircraft Pilot programs?+
26 U.S. institutions reported Remote Aircraft Pilot graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 17 states, awarding 177 credentials in the year. That is 1.5% of all Air Transportation graduates.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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