CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (November 1, 2024) — Students interested in Coe College’s new aviation-management and flight-operations program can now pursue a guaranteed admission option for a seamless transition into their aviation education and career. Coe is introducing a direct-entry program for Fall 2025 admitted students who plan to pursue flight school at the college, guaranteeing admission to those who meet specific criteria by December 1, 2024. The direct-entry option at Coe is a new benefit for students interested in the aviation-management and flight-operations program.
Beyond guaranteed admission, students who qualify for direct admission will receive an Early Aviators Award valued at $500 per year for four years. This is in addition to scholarships valued up to $40,000 per year, which are awarded at the time of admission.
Direct-entry students will also benefit from flight-school-priority enrollment and personalized academic advising regarding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. The flight-school-priority ensures flight training within the student’s first term as long as a valid FAA medical certificate is secured. Coe is partnering with Revv Aviation to operate the flight school out of the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID).
“There is undeniable opportunity within our aviation management and flight operations program right now. The Eastern Iowa Airport is a dynamic backdrop for future aviators, and we are pleased to offer this opportunity,” said Senior Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Institutional Effectiveness Julie Staker (’93).
To be eligible for direct entry, students must complete and submit Coe’s financial-aid-estimate form, participate in an official campus visit before December 1, 2024, and submit their enrollment fee by December 1, 2024. Coe is hosting its first-ever Aviation Visit Day November 9 at the college’s aeronautical field station located at CID, which will satisfy the campus-visit requirement.
“You can sense the excitement and interest in this program, especially here at the airport. This direct-entry option is particularly intriguing because it will only help grow the number of aviation professionals — all who are needed in this industry as we face a pilot shortage,” said Airport Director Marty Lenss.
Representatives from both the airport and Revv will be on hand during the visit-day event, and prospective students will have the opportunity to take part in a discovery flight.
"We are excited to partner with Coe College on their aviation program," said Revv Chief Flight Instructor Jerome Howard. "If you want to pursue a career in aviation, getting in the air through the direct-entry program at Coe is the way to go."
The need for pilots and support personnel across the aviation industry has reached a critical level. There is estimated to be a 17,000-pilot gap as many are leaving the position due to age-mandated retirement, and the increase in demand is driving commercial-pilot starting-salaries near $90,000 or more. Coe will help train the next generation of pilots. Students who choose Coe for FAA pilot certification will also graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration with a concentration in aviation management and flight operations, which is preferred by major carriers and creates higher earning and career promotion potential.
Studying aviation at Coe comes with other built-in advantages. Cedar Rapids has a rich aviation history — the Wright Brothers grew up in Cedar Rapids — and a strong aviation network remains. Coe students will learn firsthand from industry professionals and expand their network even before they graduate, which is easy to do with CID as your educational setting. A thriving regional hub, the airport served 1.5 million passengers in 2024 and accommodates five airlines with service to nineteen nonstop destinations.
Lenss and CID have been instrumental in the formation and launch of the aviation management and flight operations program at Coe, while the TrueNorth Legacy Foundation has provided a generous investment to jumpstart the initiative.
Coe College offers superb academics and exciting extracurricular activities in a thriving urban setting that promotes student growth and success. Established in 1851, Coe has a national reputation for academic excellence enhanced by a student-centered, highly-supportive campus environment. Coe’s vibrant Cedar Rapids location provides an abundance of internships for students and career opportunities for graduates.
