The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) announced that the AOPA Foundation has awarded more than $2.2 million in scholarships in 2026—the largest amount in the Foundation’s history—with an average award of $6,500.
With support from the Ray Foundation, more than $1.3 million will go to 115 high school students and teachers, who will each receive $12,000 toward training for their private pilot certificate.
In addition to the high school scholarships, the Foundation awards other scholarships that can be used toward sport, private, commercial, or flight instructor certificates; instrument or multiengine ratings; and non-flying aviation pursuits such as mechanic or flight dispatcher training.
“Every one of these scholarships starts with donors who are passionate about aviation and choose to invest in someone else’s future. Their generosity is changing lives across the country,” said AOPA Foundation Senior Vice President Elizabeth Tennyson.
The AOPA Foundation recently improved its application process and now offers two application periods each year instead of one. The first application period each year runs from April to June, and the second from October to December.
“Spreading the scholarship awards over the course of the year means applicants aren’t waiting as long to start earning a new rating or certificate, and if they’re not selected the first time they apply, they now have an earlier opportunity to reapply,” said AOPA Foundation Scholarship Program Senior Manager Taz Thomas.
To be eligible for scholarships through the AOPA Foundation, applicants must meet scholarship-specific criteria and hold a current AOPA membership, which is free for high school students. The current application window, which opened on October 1, will close on December 31.
