CKQ College Profiles: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Each quarter, The College Knowledge Quarterly will feature a different U.S. College or University for families to get to know a bit better. The aim is not to tell you about a school you know (or at least you think you know) well, but to introduce you to a school you may have not considered a viable candidate before. In this edition, we are pleased to feature a school that offers one of the most unique platforms for students – the wonderful world of hands-on aeronautical studies. (if you ask me, an up-and-coming field for sure), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

One of the many things that makes Embry-Riddle unique is that it possesses two distinct campuses; one in Daytona Beach, Florida, the other in Prescott, Arizona. (U.S. News ranks the “main” campus, in Daytona, #15 – Regional Universities – South; Forbes ranked it #329), is a medium-sized, private school in the long-rich space-crazy region of southeast Florida. Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus serves approximately 6,000 undergraduate students in a small city in an urban environment, approximately one hour northeast of Orlando.

ERAU is one of the few U.S. schools that is really focused in one specific area – that of aviation. Students who know this is the field they wish to hold a career in would be wise to give this school a good, hard look. Because of its somewhat singular focus, it is diverse on several fronts. It draws students from all over the nation and has a sizable international population as well. Along similar lines, ethnic diversity is also clearly a strength of the campus. Two things that are not all that diverse are the gender divide and the political stance of most of the campus community members. Approximately 80% of the students are male and a significant portion of them lean ‘right’ politically, at least according to a number of student provided reports.

So let’s just put it out there. What’s the top draw at ERAU? You get to fly! Sometimes your first day on campus! How cool is that!!

Okay, some not so awesome news: because ERAU is at the top of a small handful of schools that work in the aerospace/aviation field, they can get away with charging a fairly high price and offer less than stellar financial aid options. This is also something students have complained about in forums.

Classes tend to be around 20-25 students, so interaction amongst students is both common and encouraged. Students also tell of having the best equipment and planes in the business. They get to work on new aircraft all the time and the classroom experience is hands-on almost all the time. No theoretical learning going on here!

One thing most people don’t think of when it comes to ERAU is athletics. But you would be wrong! The school boasts 19 NCAA Division 2 teams and has widespread support within the community. Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Tennis and Track & Field are all offerings for their student-athletes. Along with a fairly rigorous workload in class, students are encouraged to participate in the Co-op/Internship programs through ERAU. Available to students with a 2.5 or higher GPA and 30 or more completed credits on campus, this opportunity lets students get first-hand opportunities to put their skills to work and experience life in their potential career field…before actually looking for the job! It gives students tangible skills, connections to future employers and allows the student to fine-tune their interests before graduating.

As students tend to be learning about aeronautics/astronautics, engineering, general aviation, etc. they tend to be a bit more focused on the work at hand and less on the party life, though many students connect with fraternities during their time at ERAU.

According to Princeton Review, as the nation's only university specializing in every aspect of the aviation and aerospace fields, employers seek out Embry-Riddle students and graduates for in-demand careers, including professional pilots, pre-med positions, several engineering fields, intelligence operations, and everything in between. Offering one-of-a-kind majors in aerospace physiology; space physics; aviation business and many more, Embry-Riddle is preparing students for the critical needs of industry today, as well as the careers of tomorrow.

The reputation of professors at Embry-Riddle is fairly strong. They are active in the campus community, always appear helpful and interested in their student’s work and projects. Additionally, students boast that many of their professors are not just learned people but ‘know the ropes’ in the workplace as well.

Embry-Riddle’s location in Daytona Beach is a plus for many students. Beyond the obvious ‘no snow’ policy, attractive campus and history of fantastic Spring Break experiences, more importantly, the hub of U.S. aeronautical work is still hosted at Kennedy Space Center, just an hour south of Embry-Riddle, off of either Highway 95 or Highway 1.

That said, Embry-Riddle is less competitive than you might think for a school that has a strong history of aeronautics/aviation study. Admission standards provide an opportunity for non-A students to get a great undergraduate education in a specific field of study. The admission rate last year was 66%, the average admitted student had a 3.7 GPA and the middle 50% ACT scores were 22-28.

According to the admission office, class rank, academic GPA, recommendation(s) and standardized test scores are the most important factors in the admission decision, followed by application essay, rigor of secondary school record, alumni relations, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, interview, level of applicant interest, volunteer work and work experience.

According to the Collegeboard and U.S. News & World Report, the school offers a total of 20 majors, has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17-1, and operates on the semester system.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Campus offers a Priority Decision deadline of March 1st and otherwise Rolling Admissions.

For more information, please visit: https://embryriddle.edu/