B.S. in Aeronautics: Military

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Liberty University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Aeronautics: Military at Liberty University is a 120-credit residential bachelor’s program designed for students who want to pursue aviation careers in the U.S. military, including active duty, Reserve and National Guard services, while developing strong technical, leadership and professional skills. Students combine classroom learning with flight training in areas such as aviation foundations, aircraft systems, navigation, aviation safety, aerodynamics and professional pilot preparation, with opportunities to earn FAA pilot ratings during the degree.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their academic and aviation foundation through ENGL 101 Composition and Rhetoric, MATH 130 Advanced Technical Mathematics, AVIA 102 Aviation Foundations and AVIA 245 Aviation Leadership. They also begin practical flight preparation through AVIA 210 Private Ground I, followed by AVIA 320 Instrument Flight and AVIA 325 Commercial Flight I as the first stage of their professional aviation training.

Year 2: The second year moves students further into flight operations with AVIA 104 Flight Operations Orientation, AVIA 225 Private Flight II, AVIA 310 Instrument Ground and AVIA 322 Commercial Flight I: Accelerated. Students also study AVIA 340 Aviation Weather and AVIA 342 GPS Navigation, developing the navigation, weather-awareness and instrument-flight knowledge needed for increasingly advanced aviation operations.

Year 3: Students begin connecting their flight training with broader aviation and operational concepts through AVIA 250 Introduction to Space Flight, AVIA 300 Aviation Safety, AVIA 324 Commercial Flight II: Accelerated and AVIA 308 Overview of Spaceflight and Space Operations. AVIA 360 Business Aviation Management adds management and organisational knowledge, giving students a wider understanding of the aviation environment in which military and professional pilots operate.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced aviation knowledge and career preparation through AVIA 305 Airplane Aerodynamics, AVIA 400 Aviation Human Factors, AVIA 455 Turbine Engines and Jet Transports and AVIA 460 Professional Pilot Career Strategies. Students finish with AVIA 430 Multi-Engine Ground and AVIA 491 Aeronautics Capstone, bringing together their technical, operational and professional aviation knowledge.

Focus areas: Military aviation, professional pilot preparation, flight training, aviation leadership, aviation safety, navigation, aerodynamics, aviation human factors, multi-engine operations, turbine aircraft and spaceflight.

Learning outcomes: Graduates are prepared to apply aviation knowledge and flight skills, meet FAA airman certification standards, support aerospace operations, demonstrate professional aviation judgment and model ethical leadership within the aerospace industry.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Liberty University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The program is specifically structured around professional aviation preparation, including FAA pilot certifications and ratings such as Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Single-Engine, Multi-Engine and Certified Flight Instructor opportunities.

Reputation (employability rankings): Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics has received the Loening Trophy four times, an award recognising the nation’s outstanding collegiate aviation program, while its NIFA flight team has won the SAFECON Region X championship 19 consecutive times according to Liberty. Liberty’s current program page also highlights its #2 Best College Campus in America ranking from Niche for 2026.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Aeronautics: Military at Liberty University gives students substantial hands-on preparation through a combination of classroom and flight training. Students work toward FAA Private, Instrument, and Commercial Single-engine airplane ratings during the degree, while developing the technical skills, judgment, leadership, and professionalism expected of military aviators. The program also offers FAA Part 141 flight instruction, giving students structured professional flight training.

Students train with Liberty’s School of Aeronautics using a substantial fleet of aircraft and advanced simulation technology. The School operates 33 aircraft, 13 flight training devices, and 11 unmanned aerial vehicles, while its simulator program includes FAA-certified devices, virtual reality, AI flight instruction, and aircraft-systems trainers.

The practical opportunities available to students include:

Flight training: Students complete practical flight training alongside their academic coursework and can earn Private, Instrument, and Commercial Single FAA airplane ratings.
FAA Part 141 instruction: The program provides FAA Part 141 flight instruction, giving students a structured pathway for professional pilot training.
Aircraft fleet: Students have access to Liberty’s training fleet, including Cessna 172S Skyhawks, Piper PA-44 Seminoles, Extra 330LX aircraft, and other aviation training assets.
Flight simulators: Training includes Frasca Cessna 172 and Piper Seminole FTDs, Frasca reconfigurable training devices, and other certified simulation equipment.
AI and virtual-reality tools: Liberty’s simulation program includes AI flight instruction and virtual reality experiences, alongside conventional flight simulators.
Garmin G1000 avionics: The Frasca FTD-5 simulators use Garmin G1000 avionics matching the equipment installed in Liberty’s aircraft, helping students transfer simulator training into actual flight operations.
Aircraft-systems training: Students can use dedicated aircraft systems trainers and simulation environments for areas such as Crew Resource Management, hydraulics, engine-bleed systems and Flight Management System training.
Simulation research: Liberty’s School of Aeronautics has a dedicated Simulator Research program where students and faculty may access FAA-certified flight simulators and other aeronautics equipment for approved research projects.
Simulator Support Facility: The facility includes 3D printers, fabrication equipment, surface-mount-device rework stations, liquid-cooling computer builds and simulator maintenance workstations, providing exposure to the technology behind modern aviation simulation.
Military-focused mentoring: Students are mentored by faculty members who have served as military leaders and pilots, helping connect technical flight training with military leadership and professional expectations.
Collaborative flight experience: Liberty’s National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) flight team provides an additional competitive aviation environment; the School reports that its team has won the SAFECON Region X championship for 19 consecutive years.
Recent simulator investment: Liberty added a Frasca VITAL FVS 100 flight simulator with an upgraded visual package in 2026, strengthening the School’s hands-on simulation capabilities.
Airport-based aviation facilities: Liberty’s School of Aeronautics operates aviation facilities associated with Lynchburg Regional Airport, supporting flight operations, aircraft training and aviation education.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Aeronautics: Military at Liberty University is designed for students who want to build the aviation knowledge, flight skills, leadership and professional judgment needed for careers in military aviation. The program combines classroom and flight training and can prepare graduates for aviation roles in the military as well as civilian aviation, with opportunities to earn FAA pilot ratings during the degree.

Typical career opportunities include:

Military Pilot
Commercial Pilot
Flight Instructor
Air Traffic Controller
Aviation Security Manager

The degree also gives students several pathways to build professional connections and prepare for employment:

Career Services: Liberty provides industry-specific career coaching, résumé development, networking training and interview preparation. Students and alumni also receive access to Handshake, where employers advertise full-time positions and internships.
Aeronautics Career Fair: Liberty holds a dedicated Aeronautics Career Fair, giving aviation students an opportunity to meet employers and explore career openings. The university's 2027 schedule lists the fair for March 30, 2027.
Military and airline connections: The School of Aeronautics highlights its network of military recruiters and airlines. Liberty also states that its airline hiring agreements can help students secure competitive employment before graduation.
Employment opportunities: Liberty provides access to Handshake, which connects students and alumni with employers advertising jobs and internships; the platform has more than 250,000 employers in its broader network.
Employment statistics and salary: Liberty's official B.S. in Aeronautics: Military pages do not publish a program-specific graduate employment rate or salary figure. Therefore, no unsupported employment or salary statistic is included here. Liberty does direct students to career resources and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for occupation-level career research.
Professional credentials: Students can work toward Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot and Commercial Pilot credentials, with additional options including multiengine and flight instructor ratings. These credentials can strengthen employability beyond the bachelor's degree itself.
Accreditation value: Liberty University is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC. However, it is important to note that Liberty's current 2026–2031 AABI accreditation list does not include the B.S. in Aeronautics: Military; the current AABI accreditation applies to four other residential aeronautics programs.
Long-term career support: Liberty Career Services remains available to students and alumni for life, supporting graduates with career milestones, job searches, coaching, workshops and application preparation after graduation.
Graduation-to-career preparation: The program specifically develops technical competence, sound judgment, professionalism, leadership and aviation skills, while faculty include former military leaders and pilots who mentor students preparing for military aviation careers.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Aeronautics: Military, students can continue into Liberty University's M.S. in Aeronautics, which offers specialized tracks including General, Safety, Leadership and Education. For students seeking the highest level of academic progression, Liberty's School of Aeronautics also offers a Ph.D. in Aviation, designed to develop advanced researchers and leaders in aviation.