The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the AOPA Foundation announced it will award $2.2 million in scholarships, the largest amount in the Foundation’s history. Beginning last week, nearly 400 recipients will be notified of their awards, out of a competitive pool of nearly 7,000 applicants nationwide.
The AOPA Foundation offers a wide variety of scholarships each year. More than $1 million is awarded to at least 80 high school students and up to 20 teachers, who will each receive $12,900 toward training for their private pilot certificate.
Others include primary flight training scholarships to be used toward sport, private, or recreational certificates as well as multiple advanced scholarships for additional certificates and ratings such as instrument, commercial, flight instructor, or multiengine instrument. The Foundation also offers several scholarships for non-flying pursuits, including mechanic or flight dispatcher training.
“These scholarships are life changing, in many cases,” said Taz Thomas, AOPA Scholarship Manager. “We’ve seen past recipients go on to work in every corner of the aviation industry. We are excited to see where this year’s awardees—who come from every part of the country and background—go in their aviation journey.”
“The biggest barrier to getting into aviation is the cost. We are honored to work with generous donors, such as the Ray Foundation, who are dedicated to investing in the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals,” said AOPA Foundation Senior Vice President Elizabeth Tennyson.
To be eligible, applicants must meet scholarship-specific criteria and hold a current AOPA membership, which is free for high school students. The application window for 2026 scholarships will open on October 6, 2025.
The AOPA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Its scholarships and programs are not funded by AOPA member dues, but by generous donations from individuals and organizations. To learn how you can support its mission, visit www.aopafoundation.org.
