Slippery Rock, Community College of Beaver County program will have students earn wings and a degree

Graduates of a new collaborative effort between Slippery Rock University and the Community College of Beaver County will not only have earned their wings, but also have a bachelor’s degree in hand.

In the co-enrollment partnership, launched next semester, students simultaneously enroll at Slippery Rock and CCBC and complete flight training through CCBC while also taking SRU courses toward their bachelor’s degree.

Nicole Dafoe, dean of Slippery Rock’s College of Engineering and Science, said students in this program have full access to academic resources, advising and campus life at both colleges.

Bachelor’s degree programs to go with the aviation pathway include: homeland security, corporate security, computing, cybersecurity, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering and industrial and systems engineering.

“The student can come to SRU while being enrolled in the piloting program, and have the traditional undergrad experience on campus while also preparing to become a pilot,” Dafoe said.

“It’s the best of both worlds. From what I’ve understood, having a bachelor’s degree helps the earning potential as a pilot, as well.”

Pilots also are in high demand. By 2034, 300,000 new pilots will be needed, according to a study from CAE, a Canadian-based aviation manufacturer.

Fifty-three percent of airline pilots in the United States are older than 50, and 35% of all pilots will either retire or leave the flight deck in the next 10 years, according to CAE.

“We’re really looking for opportunities to fill workforce demands,” Dafoe said. “We need pilots and this is a great opportunity for students who want to be a pilot but also earn their bachelor’s degree.”

The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers was $226,600 in May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median annual wage for commercial pilots was $122,670.

“This unique pathway provides flexibility, accessibility and value while developing future aviation leaders,” said John Higgs, CCBC’s senior dean of the James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences.

“Our well-known aviation programs have placed a professional pilot in the cockpit of every major airline in the United States and an air-traffic controller in every FAA control tower in the country.”

Students would be able to complete the program in five years or less, Dafoe said.

“It gives students a fallback plan if they want,” she said. “Maybe they’re interested in being a pilot, but then want to go off and pursue a career in computer engineering. This gives that option.”