Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus

If you're looking at K-State Salina for a non-pilot-related program, you'll find a family-like campus of caring faculty and staff, plentiful opportunities for networking & getting to know your classmates, and hands-on learning and experiences that will apply outside the classroom. Unfortunately, my review of the campus overall is tainted by the pilot program. If you're considering the Professional Pilot program & paying for it yourself, steer clear. The university's advertising of it sounds spiffy and great, but it's as believable as a used car salesman's pitch. The program will treat you more like an airline employee than a valued customer, causing problems that will cost you far more time and money than admissions will quote you. It can be a very toxic, judgmental environment that can quickly kill any passion you've grown for flying; the uniform requirement, and many CFIs staunch enforcement of it, is a prime example. Last time I checked, businesses that value their customers don't treat them like military cadets & impose petty conditions like that for the "privilege" of paying $270 an hour to fly. Additionally, due to K-State's role in the program, flight training is treated as more of an academic class regimen rather than professional training. Expect to waste months waiting to start a new rating & be prepared to pay through the nose for your ratings compared to most respectable mom-and-pop schools, even though most CFIs here get paid crumbs, compared to what the school will charge you per hour for instruction. In short, if you want to become a career pilot, unless you're a Veteran on the GI bill, get close to a full-ride scholarship for tuition & flight labs, or only care about "being a wildcat," stay far away. For the love of all that is holy, do not sink yourself into debt for this program or throw away hard-won savings; K-State Aviation will not respect it. Get your ratings at a mom-and-pop 61 or 141 school that believes in treating their customers & their hard-earned money with respect. Your future self and your wallet will thank you later. There are several phenomenal people in the program who genuinely care about students and the significant investment they're making, but their efforts are unfortunately tainted by a corrupt system that values academic formalities and petty conventions above all else. This program will demand everything from you, but never hold up its end of the bargain when difficulties inevitably arise. If you do want an aviation-related degree alongside pilot ratings, check out the Aviation Maintenance, Management, or UAS programs at K-State; they're pretty solid & will give you more marketability outside of flying (having a backup plan is essential for anyone considering a pilot career).

Excellent faculty and students. Everyone is so helpful and nice. Great programs!

Aviation students starting here will most likely not be able to fly until 3 semesters later. The ratings here take forever to obtain due to "waitlists" and numerous canceled lessons due to lack of aircraft. This university is not a flight school, it is a university. Therefore, your classes will come first. Your flightlabs are not a priority. I have had to wait almost 2 semesters to get into the next flight lab. Most students have been found waiting about 3 months before they get their checkrides scheduled (the school schedules them for you and you aren't allowed to schedule your own checkrides anymore). When waiting for a checkride it is easy to lose your proficiency and skills in flying. Making you require a refresher flight or two that can cost you $200- $500 extra per flight. So VA students also beware. Even though they say your GI bill will cover 100% of the cost, that is not the case if you have to take refresher flights or prog check retakes. After graduation you will most likely still need to attend school to complete your flight lab which could take more than a few months. After having to spend thousands of dollars on your flights and lessons, you also have to purchase a uniform if you want to fly. You will not be allowed to fly without your uniform. This school can become very expensive. Last time I checked when a company wants you to wear a uniform, they would PROVIDE one for you. Many of the students I have started school with have opted to get their lessons outside of the school in Part 61, which is cheaper, faster, and lacks a uniform requirement. This school is also very money hungry. They are quick to take your money and ask for more, but very slow in paying you the money they owe you. My recommendation is to acquire your ratings elsewhere and get a degree if you absolutely want one. Since most airlines now do not require a degree anymore. I cannot attest for the other degree programs, but I feel like the aviation program here makes many students angry and regretful for choosing K-State. If you choose to attend the aviation program here I wish you luck. You're going to need it.