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Sallie Mae® Airline Career Loan
Becoming a professional pilot is an investment in your future, but for many aspiring aviators, the cost of training can feel out of reach. That’s why FLT Academy has teamed up with Sallie Mae, a trusted leader in student financing, to help make your path to a career in aviation more accessible.
With the Sallie Mae® Airline Career Loan, eligible students have the opportunity to finance their professional pilot training with options that may include competitive rates, flexible repayment plans, and terms designed for students. This financing option is built specifically to support your educational journey as you work toward becoming a professional pilot
With the Sallie Mae® Airline Career Loan, students can get the funding and resources they need to attend flight school and launch their career as a professional pilot.
- Enrollment in FLT Academy Accelerated Career-Track or Contour Program required
- You can borrow up to 100% of the cost of training and benefit from flexible repayment options to fit your needs: interest only, fixed repayment, and a deferred option
- No origination fee or prepayment penalty
- Variable or fixed interest rates
- Add a creditworthy cosigner
- Since most students have little or no credit history, they were nearly 4X more likely to be approved with a cosigner last year! A cosigner is usually a parent, relative, or other responsible adult with good credit, and having one may help you get a better interest rate
- Available to qualified international students with a creditworthy cosigner that is a US citizen or permanent resident
Ready to make your dream of becoming a pilot a reality? Apply now with Sallie Mae and start your training at FLT Academy today.
Tip: when applying, be sure to select “certificate” when asked “What type of program do you need a loan for?” Otherwise, FLT Academy may not appear as a training location.
DISCLAIMER:
Sallie Mae financing is available only to students enrolled in career-oriented aviation training programs at FLT Academy. Sallie Mae financing is not available for students pursuing only a Private Pilot Certificate, or for portions of the Contour Program. To qualify for Sallie Mae financing, students must be enrolled in a Career-Track program, the Contour Airlines Program, or pursuing additional ratings beyond the Private Pilot Certificate, such as the Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII), Multi-Engine (ME), and/or Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI).
Important Loan Information – Please Read
Sallie Mae may approve you for a higher loan amount than your estimated cost of training. This is based on your credit profile and does not mean you will borrow more than what is needed for your program.
For example, your FLT Academy training estimate might show a total estimated cost of $100,000, while Sallie Mae approves you for $150,000+. Upon enrollment, FLT Academy will only certify your loan for the estimated cost of training listed on your official estimate.
Think of it like a mortgage pre-approval—your approval amount represents your borrowing potential, not your final loan amount.
Rest assured: your principal loan will not exceed the training cost outlined by FLT Academy.
Sallie Mae Airline Career Loans are only available for professional aviation training programs. More information on eligile programs can be found below in the Sallie Mae FAQ section.
sallie mae frequently asked questions
What are current Sallie Mae interest rates?
Sallie Mae loans follow a traditional approval process, and interest rates are not one-size-fits-all. Your rate and loan terms are determined based on several credit profile factors such as your FICO score, length of credit history, existing liabilities (debt-to-income ratio), income, and whether you apply with a qualified cosigner.
Because of these variables, two students enrolling in the same training program may be offered different interest rates or repayment structures. Sallie Mae also typically offers both fixed and variable rate options, which can impact your long-term cost of borrowing depending on market conditions and your individual approval.
Additionally, Sallie Mae may provide features such as interest-only or deferred payment options during training, but eligibility for these benefits is determined during the application and underwriting process.
Interest rates and loan terms can change over time, so the most accurate and up-to-date information is always available directly through Sallie Mae. We recommend reviewing their website or speaking with a Sallie Mae loan specialist to understand current rate ranges, repayment options, and what you may personally qualify for.
What training can be financed through Sallie Mae?
Sallie Mae provides financing for career-oriented flight training that leads toward FAA certificates and ratings as part of a structured professional pathway. At FLT Academy, this includes programs such as Career-Track, Career-Track+, and the certificates and ratings associated with the Contour Airlines Program. In some cases, Sallie Mae may also approve financing for individual certificates or ratings beyond the Private Pilot level when they are clearly tied to continued professional training.
It’s important to understand that Sallie Mae does not fund Private Pilot training when it is pursued as a standalone or hobby-focused certificate. Financing eligibility is generally based on the training being part of a broader, career-focused progression toward commercial aviation opportunities.
I only want to get my Private Pilot Certificate and am not interested in anything else - am I eligible for Sallie Mae?
Sallie Mae financing is not available for those who are only interested in obtaining their private pilot certificate. To qualify for the Sallie Mae Airline Career Loan, you must be seeking training towards a career in aviation which requires additional training beyond a private pilot certificate.
Is a co-signer required?
No – not always. If you have a strong credit profile, it is possible to qualify for Sallie Mae financing on your own without a cosigner. Factors such as credit score, established credit history, income, and overall debt obligations all play a role in whether an individual approval can be granted.
In situations where an applicant has limited credit history, lower credit scores, or higher existing debt, Sallie Mae may require a qualified cosigner in order to approve the loan or to offer more favorable loan terms. A cosigner can help strengthen the overall application by adding additional creditworthiness and repayment assurance.
Because each application is reviewed individually, the best way to determine whether a cosigner will be needed is to complete the application process directly with Sallie Mae.
Does Sallie Mae allow for co-signer release?
Yes. If your loan is approved with a cosigner, Sallie Mae does offer a cosigner release option after the primary borrower has made 12 consecutive on-time payments and meets any additional eligibility requirements at the time of the request.
It’s important to understand that because this release feature exists, Sallie Mae generally underwrites the loan with the expectation that the cosigner may not remain on the loan for its entire term. As a result, a significant portion of the final loan terms – such as interest rate or approval conditions – will still be influenced by the primary applicant’s credit profile, income, and overall financial picture.
For example, if a younger applicant with limited or no credit history applies with a cosigner who has a very strong credit profile, the loan terms may improve compared to applying alone. However, they may not be reduced as much as some applicants expect, since the lender anticipates that the cosigner could be released once the borrower establishes a consistent repayment history.
As always, specific eligibility requirements and policies can change, so it’s best to confirm current details directly with Sallie Mae during the application process.
Ready to Fly?
If you are passionate about aviation and looking for a faster, smarter way to build your career, this is it.
Here’s how to get started:
1
Schedule a Consultation
Schedule a consultation with FLT Academy to receive personalized training estimates and more details about the program and requirements.
2
Prepare
Obtain and provide all enrollment requirements and documentation.
3
Enroll
Enroll and begin training at FLT Academy.
