Purdue Global Visits Parrish Aviation

Parrish Aviation hosted Purdue Global for a campus visit at Dallas Executive Airport focused on student career development. Students at various stages — from Private Pilot candidates to those completing advanced ratings — joined discussions with education and aviation industry professionals.

What the Visit Covered

• Building a long-term aviation career strategy — from student pilot to airline captain
• Navigating training milestones, certificate timelines, and hour-building strategies
• What airlines actually look for in pilot candidates beyond the logbook
• Aviation career paths after flight school: regionals, corporate, charter, instructing
• Leadership and aeronautical decision-making skill development

Up to 45 College Credits for Your Flight Training

The most significant topic: through the Parrish Aviation–Purdue Global partnership, eligible students may receive up to 45 college credits toward their degree for FAA certificates and ratings earned at Parrish Aviation.

A student who completes their Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot Certificate at Parrish Aviation may enter Purdue Global with more than a full semester of credit already applied — without paying for those credits twice.

Purdue Global School of Aviation Programs

Purdue Global's School of Aviation offers two fully online bachelor's degrees:

• Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight — aviation safety, crew resource management, meteorology, FAA regulations, designed for working pilots
• Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management — aviation business, operations, airport management, for students interested in the industry beyond the cockpit

Both programs are fully online and designed to be completed while continuing flight training. Train at KRBD during the day, complete coursework in the evenings, and graduate with both your flight certificates and an accredited degree.

Why a Degree Matters for Airline Hiring

Major airlines increasingly prefer degree-holding pilots. Delta, United, American, and most major carriers list a bachelor's degree as preferred on their job postings. While an FAA ATP certificate does not require a degree, having one strengthens your application and broadens your options — especially for competitive mainline positions.

The Purdue Global partnership gives Parrish Aviation students a practical, cost-efficient path to that credential without pausing training. It's one more reason the full career pathway at Parrish Aviation produces graduates who are competitive from day one of airline hiring.

How Parrish Aviation Students Apply

Parrish Aviation students interested in the Purdue Global partnership can begin the application process at any point in their training. There is no requirement to wait until a specific certificate level — the sooner a student enrolls, the more coursework they can complete concurrently with flight training.

Purdue Global assigns an academic advisor who works specifically with aviation students and understands the unique scheduling demands of flight training. The process is designed for student pilots, not traditional on-campus students who attend class on a fixed schedule.

Credits for flight training are evaluated based on FAA certificates and ratings held at the time of enrollment. Students who have completed their Private Pilot License may be eligible for initial credit. Students holding additional ratings accumulate additional credits with each certificate.

Learn More

Interested in the Parrish Aviation–Purdue Global partnership? Visit our Purdue Global partnership page for program details, or contact us at (469) 886-8089 to discuss how your flight training credits can apply toward a degree.