Saint Louis University's BS in Aviation Science (Flight Science), housed in Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, is one of SLU's signature undergraduate programs and one of the oldest flight-training programs in the United States, tracing back to Parks College's founding as the first federally certified college of aviation in the country. SLU itself was founded in 1818, is a private Jesuit Catholic research university with Carnegie R1 "very high research activity" status, and sits on a 273-acre urban campus in St. Louis, Missouri. Unlike single-digit-acceptance-rate universities, SLU admits roughly three-quarters of applicants who meet its academic and English-proficiency requirements, making Aviation Science a genuinely accessible entry point into a licensed flight career compared with the reach schools most international applicants also apply to.
This guide covers what matters if you're evaluating SLU's Aviation Science program: acceptance realities, tuition and living costs, admission requirements, how to get in, English-test rules, and career outcomes.
Acceptance Rate
SLU does not publish a program-specific acceptance rate for Aviation Science. The best available figure is SLU's university-wide undergraduate acceptance rate of approximately 75%, based on recent admissions data, which applies across all of SLU's colleges and majors, including Parks College.
Because SLU's admissions process does not evaluate applicants by intended major the way some more selective universities do, there's no reason to expect Aviation Science specifically is meaningfully harder or easier to enter than SLU's other undergraduate programs; the practical gate for Flight Science is more often physical (a first-class or second-class FAA medical certificate) and financial (flight-hour costs) than an admissions bar.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Aviation Science follows SLU's standard undergraduate sticker-price tuition, which applies uniformly across SLU's colleges:
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $58,960 |
| Living expenses | $24,750 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $83,710 |
Note that this cost of attendance figure reflects standard tuition, room, and board only; Parks College's Flight Science track carries substantial additional flight-training costs (aircraft rental, instructor fees, and FAA certification and rating fees) on top of standard tuition, which are not included in SLU's published cost-of-attendance figure and should be budgeted separately. SLU reports that 99% of first-time freshmen receive some form of financial aid, most commonly merit scholarships, which can meaningfully reduce the net tuition price even though flight-training costs are typically not covered by these awards. SLU's application fee is $0.
Admission Requirements
Aviation Science applicants go through SLU's standard freshman admissions process:
- Common Application or SLU's own application (no application fee)
- Official secondary school transcripts (with certified English translation if needed)
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo/SAT/ACT) or a qualifying SLU Writing Examination (SLUWE) score
- SAT or ACT scores (test-optional for admission; SLU's middle-50% SAT range is 1120-1380)
- Financial documentation sufficient for I-20 issuance
- Letter of recommendation (optional but encouraged for scholarship consideration)
- An FAA first-class or second-class medical certificate is required before beginning actual flight training, separate from the academic admissions process
SLU runs four undergraduate application rounds: Early Decision I (November 3 deadline, binding), Early Action (December 1), Early Decision II (January 16, binding), and Regular Decision (preferred by April 1, rolling thereafter while space is available).
How to Get Into Saint Louis University's Aviation Science Program
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Apply through the Common Application or SLU's own free application. There is no application fee, which removes one common friction point for international applicants comparing multiple US universities.
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Submit SAT/ACT scores if they strengthen your profile. SLU is test-optional, so a strong score (within or above the 1120-1380 SAT range) can help, but a missing score will not disqualify an otherwise strong applicant.
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Plan for the SLU Writing Examination (SLUWE) after enrollment, not just the entry English test. Most incoming international students also sit the SLUWE; a qualifying score of 4 or higher independently satisfies the English-proficiency requirement even without a qualifying standardized test score, and students below a 4 are directed into ESL Center coursework.
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Secure your FAA medical certificate early. Because flight training requires a first-class or second-class FAA medical certificate, international applicants should research the certification process (including any additional steps required for non-US citizens) well before arriving on campus, so a medical issue doesn't delay your flight-hour progress.
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Apply by December 1 for automatic merit scholarship consideration. SLU automatically considers all complete freshman applications submitted by this date for its Vice Presidents' and Billiken Scholarship tiers, worth up to roughly $39,000/year at the top level, which can meaningfully offset the program's substantial flight-training costs.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
SLU's undergraduate English-proficiency requirement applies to Aviation Science applicants on the same terms as all other SLU undergraduate majors:
- IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall, recommended 7.0
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 80, recommended 90 (TOEFL PBT minimum 550; TOEFL Essentials minimum 8.5)
- PTE: minimum 54
- Duolingo: minimum 110
- SLUWE safety net: most enrolling international students also take the SLU Writing Examination; a score of 4 or higher independently satisfies the full English-proficiency requirement even if a standardized test score is missing or below the stated minimum
- Waiver: citizens of designated English-speaking countries and students with a secondary education taught entirely in English may be exempted from testing entirely
For Aviation Science specifically, clear Speaking and Listening comfortably above the minimum: flight instruction relies heavily on precise radio communication and real-time verbal instruction in the cockpit, so weak spoken English is a practical safety issue in this major in a way it isn't in a purely classroom-based degree. For general context on SLU as a university, see the Saint Louis University guide.
Career Outcomes
SLU does not publish employment or salary data specific to Aviation Science graduates, so the figures below are SLU's best available university-wide undergraduate proxy:
- Undergraduate graduation rate: 75%
- Top recruiters (university-wide undergraduate): Deloitte, Medtronic, Lockton Companies, World Wide Technology, Edward Jones, EY (Ernst & Young), Accenture Federal Services, and MilliporeSigma
Parks College's aviation-specific placement is not broken out in SLU's published data, but Aviation Science and Flight Science graduates from programs of this type typically pursue paths as commercial or regional airline pilots (after accumulating required flight hours), flight instructors, or roles in airport operations and aviation management, rather than through SLU's general corporate recruiting pipeline.
FAQ
Does SLU publish an acceptance rate specifically for Aviation Science? No. SLU does not break out admissions data by major. The university-wide undergraduate acceptance rate is approximately 75%, and there's no indication Aviation Science is meaningfully more or less selective than SLU's other undergraduate programs.
How much does SLU's Aviation Science program cost? Standard tuition is $58,960/year, with a total cost of attendance of $83,710/year including living expenses. This does not include Parks College's additional flight-training costs (aircraft rental, instructor fees, FAA certification and rating fees), which should be budgeted separately and vary based on how many flight hours and ratings a student pursues.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for SLU's Aviation Science program? The standard SLU undergraduate minimum applies: IELTS 6.5 overall or TOEFL iBT 80. Most incoming international students also take the SLU Writing Examination (SLUWE) after admission, where a score of 4 or higher independently satisfies the requirement.
Do I need an FAA medical certificate to study Aviation Science at SLU? Yes, for the Flight Science track specifically. A first-class or second-class FAA medical certificate is required before beginning actual flight training, separate from SLU's academic admissions requirements. International applicants should research this process well ahead of arrival.
Are merit scholarships available for Aviation Science students? Yes. SLU automatically considers all complete freshman applications submitted by December 1 for its Vice Presidents', University, Ignatian, and Billiken Scholarship tiers, worth up to roughly $39,000/year at the top tier, though these scholarships typically do not cover the program's separate flight-training costs.
What can I do with an Aviation Science degree from SLU? Graduates of Flight Science programs like SLU's typically pursue careers as commercial or regional airline pilots, flight instructors, or roles in airport and aviation operations management, building required flight hours after graduation before qualifying for airline transport pilot certification.