Educational only. Confirm this with your CFI (certified flight instructor), an AME (aviation medical examiner), and each program. We are not the FAA, a flight school, or an airline. Full disclaimer

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State guide · Colorado

Learn to Fly in Colorado

Schools, clubs, and instructors. Educational only. Confirm each step with your CFI.

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Not financial, tax, or legal advice

This is general educational information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Grease the Journey does not endorse or broker loans. Rates, terms, and benefit rules come from the lender, the school, or the VA, and they can change. Consult the lender, the VA, or a licensed financial professional before you borrow or use benefits. Nothing here promises earnings, a job offer, or any other outcome.

Never rush a badge. Fly only what you're trained and ready for, and plan it with your instructor. Safety first. Last checked October 2026.

Flight training in Colorado

Colorado's two-year colleges (Aims about $66k, CNCC about $65k flight) undercut MSU Denver's $80k–$95k bachelor's range.

  • Flying clubs

    8 listed in this file.

  • Flight schools

    5 rows in this file.

  • Airline base

    United · DEN

Flying Clubs

  • Community

    Denver Flyers

    Broomfield (Rocky Mountain Metro)

    Included hours in dues; Verify extra-hour rate

    View (opens in a new tab)

  • School-run

    Centennial Flyers

    Englewood (Centennial)

    C152 from $134/hr wet to DA40 $229 (search summary)

    View (opens in a new tab)

  • Military

    USAF Academy Aero Club (Flight Training Center)

    Colorado Springs (USAFA airfield)

    $175-$195/hr (May 2026 packet)

    View (opens in a new tab)

  • Military

    Peterson SFB Aero Club (Rocky Mountain USAF Flight Training Center)

    Colorado Springs (Peterson SFB)

    Not found

    View (opens in a new tab)
View all 8 clubs

Never affected by sponsorship. Free flying club listings and the A–Z school list are never reordered or affected by sponsors.

Flying clubs are member-run groups that share the cost of aircraft. Because there's no profit markup, hourly rates are often lower than at a flight school, which makes a club one of the cheapest ways to build hours after your private certificate. You also get a community: mentors, safety pilots, fly-outs, and people who know the local examiners and instructors. The trade-offs are monthly dues, a buy-in or initiation fee at many clubs, waitlists, and the fact that not every club offers instruction or accepts student pilots. Rates move with fuel prices, so confirm current costs with the club before you join.

Clubs last checked 2026-10. The file counts 8: 4 community, 2 military, 0 university, 2 school-run. Data quality in the file: partial.

Showing 8 of 8. Clubs without a published hourly rate stay at the bottom of the rate sort.

Flight Schools

Never affected by sponsorship. Free flying club listings and the A–Z school list are never reordered or affected by sponsors.

School details

University programs

Metropolitan State University of Denver (opens in a new tab)

Active

B.S. Aviation & Aerospace Science – Professional Flight Officer

City and airport
Denver · Varies by partner school
Part 141
Verify
Restricted ATP
1,000. Bachelor's on FAA list (rev. 9/15/2026); confirm 61.160(b) vs (d) with school
Published flight cost
$80k–$95k estimated range

Scope: paid to partner flight schools, separate from tuition

Source year: 2025–26

Sources

Aims Community College (opens in a new tab)

Active

AAS Professional Pilot

City and airport
Greeley · KGXY
Part 141
Verify
Published flight cost
About $66,355 flight fees (per search summary)Verify

Scope: plus differential tuition; in-district tuition $10,275

Source year: 2026

Aid and GI Bill
Not foundNot found
Airline partners
Not found

Sources

Colorado Northwestern Community College (opens in a new tab)

Active

A.S. Aviation Technology

City and airport
Rangely · Not found
Part 141
Verify
Published flight cost
$64,752 flight costs (per search summary of CNCC sheet)Verify

Source year: 2025–26

Aid and GI Bill
Not foundNot found
Airline partners
Not found

Sources

Other

ATP Flight School (opens in a new tab)

Locations
Colorado Springs (COS); Denver–Centennial (APA); Denver/Boulder (BJC); Fort Collins (FNL, opened July 2026)
Part 61 or 141
Verify
Published cost
$123,995 from zero; $90,995 with private

Scope: fixed tuition; ~$10.5k–$12k exam fees and up to $5k location premium extra

Source year: 2026

VA approved
Verify

Sources

Cadet Programs

View all

  • Delta Air Lines

    Propel Pilot Career Path (Collegiate & CFI path)

    Open

    View

  • JetBlue

    Gateway Select

    Open

    View

  • Envoy Air (American)

    Envoy Cadet Program

    Rolling

    View

Costs, hubs, notes, and sources

Data quality in the file: good. Colorado's two-year colleges (Aims about $66k, CNCC about $65k flight) undercut MSU Denver's $80k–$95k bachelor's range. The state aeronautics division runs a state aviation-education grant that goes to institutions.

All Colorado flight schools, A–Z

  • ATP Flight School

State money

CDOT Aviation Education & Workforce Development Grant

Active

Aeronautics division

Administrator
CDOT Division of Aeronautics
Who receives it
institutions
Amount
$442,422 awarded in the 2026 cycle
Eligibility
Accredited schools and colleges, or private entities with 5+ years of operation. 2027 window closes Nov 15, 2026.
Covers flight fees
No (program-level)

Sources

Colorado Pilots Association Scholarships

Closed (annual)

Association scholarship

Administrator
Colorado Pilots Association
Who receives it
students
Amount
Not stated
Eligibility
Colorado residents at Colorado flight schools. PPL award is for ages 16–22; the advanced award is for female pilots (instrument, commercial, or multi). 2026 cycle closed.
Covers flight fees
Yes

Sources

CABA Scholarship

Active

Association scholarship

Administrator
Colorado Aviation Business Association
Who receives it
students
Amount
Up to $8,000
Eligibility
General and business aviation education and training; due Oct 31, 2026
Covers flight fees
Yes

Sources

Airline hubs and bases

Regional and other carriers

Notes

Examiners and medical examiners

Sources for Colorado

Colorado FAQ

How do I become an airline pilot in Colorado?

Colorado's two-year colleges (Aims about $66k, CNCC about $65k flight) undercut MSU Denver's $80k–$95k bachelor's range. Last checked 2026-10. Confirm it with a CFI and each school.

What flight schools are listed for Colorado?

The file lists 5 schools. Names are in Flight Schools on this page.

What published flight costs are listed for Colorado?

Published costs are on each school row. Prices can change. Check the school for the current figure.

Safety is the most important badge

Never rush a badge. Fly only what you're trained and ready for, and plan it with your instructor. Safety first.

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