Female Pilot Scholarships

• Amelia Earhart is one of America's most famous pilots, yet the number of women pilots remains low. To encourage more women to enter the field, organizations like Ninety Nines created scholarships to finance their schooling. Members of the organization can apply for the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship, which gives up to $5,000 to a female aviation or aeronautics student. Aspiring female pilots can also apply for the Girls With Wings Scholarship, which is administered by the organization of the same name. Girls With Wings gives $1,000 to selected candidates for aviation training.
  
  

Black Pilot Scholarships

• African Americans can take advantage of aid opportunities from the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). Created in 1976 to support black aviation and aeronautical professionals, the organization provides several scholarships, including the OBAP General Scholarship. Candidates must have a private pilot's license and, if selected, receive $7,000. Another OBAP scholarship is the Edward Horne Scholarship, which gives $5,000 to a current pilot. The money must be used to advance his career with more training to get a higher piloting license.
  
  

Aviation Fraternity Scholarships

• Aviation professionals have created honorary societies that administer scholarships to aspiring pilots in financial need. Alpha Eta Rho International Aviation Fraternity (AHP), for instance, provides the AHP National Scholarship, which gives five $1,000 scholarships to deserving candidates. The fraternity was established in 1929 and is the oldest aviation fraternity in the United States. At a minimum, applicants must be members of the society and have a 3.0 grade point average to qualify for the scholarship.
  
  

School-Sponsored Scholarships

• Certain aviation schools provide scholarships to currently enrolled students. One such school is Vaughn College, which is located in Flushing, New York. The school administers a variety of scholarship programs, including the Gold Wings Scholarship, the Kiwanis Scholarship, the John F. Kennedy International Chamber of Commerce Scholarship and Founders' Scholarships. These opportunities grant anywhere between $500 and $10,000 to selected recipients. To be considered for any of the school's scholarships, applicants must first complete a Free Application For Federal Student Aid form.