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Cost Reference / AOPA, FAA, BLS, VA Primary Sources
TexasCost figures last verified: April 2026

Flight School Cost in Texas: PPL Pricing, Named Schools, and Hourly Rates for 2026

Major training hub. No state income tax. Hazlewood Act for veterans extends education benefits.

Flight school in Texas costs $11,000 to $16,000 for a Private Pilot License, with Cessna 172 wet rental at $170 to $210/hr and CFI instruction at $55 to $80/hr. Full career-track training from zero to ATP minimums runs roughly $110,000 (traditional path) to $123,995 (ATP Flight School fixed price).

PPL all-in$11,000 to $16,000Aggregated from named-school pricing
Cessna 172 wet rate$170 to $210/hrPer-hour wet rate band
CFI hourly$55 to $80/hrIndependent and Part 141 staff
VFR days / year300 plusNOAA climate normals

Metro-tier breakdown

MetroCessna 172 wetCFI hourly
Dallas-Fort Worth$175 to $215/hr$60 to $85/hr
Houston$175 to $220/hr$60 to $85/hr
Austin$180 to $225/hr$65 to $90/hr
San Antonio$170 to $210/hr$55 to $80/hr

FAA-certificated Part 141 flight schools in Texas (alphabetical)

Every 14 CFR Part 141 pilot-school location the FAA lists in Texas: 74 locations under 56 air agency certificates, #2 of 51 states and territories, clustered in Fort Worth (9), Denison (4) and Waco (4). 70 have a page with the FAA record, nearest airport and peer schools; the other 4 lack a locatable address in the FAA record. Part 61 instructors are not certificated and are not listed.

Part 141 locations74FAA list, 24 Aug 2026
Certificates56distinct air agency certs
On the airfield52address under 1 mi from airport
Sectional plate · TexasWhere the 73 listed schools sit
Listed addressZIP centroidNearest field
Outline map of Texas with 73 FAA-certificated Part 141 flight school locations markedAerospace N3XTAlamo Helicopter Tours San Antonio LLCAllen Corporation of AmericaAmerican Flyers IncAmerican Flyers IncAngelo State UniversityATP Flight AcademyAviator Air LLCBaylor UniversityBell Training AcademyBird Acquisition LLCCentral Texas CollegeCoast Flight Training and ManagementCoast Flight Training and ManagementCoyote Flight and Training CenterDelta-Qualiflight AviationEpic Aviation, IncEpic Aviation, IncFlying Tigers Flight School, LtdGenesis Flight AcademyHCH Aviation LLCHCH Aviation LLCHelicopter Experts IncHub City AviationHuffman Aviation LLCKachemak Bay Flying Service, LLCLeadership in Flight Training LLCLetourneau UniversityLonestar College Conroe CenterMarcair AviationMonarch AirNew Braunfels (KBAZ)Parrish Aviation Flight Academy, LLCParrish Aviation Flight Academy, LLCPilots Choice Aviation IncRaider Aviation LLCRich Aviation Services, LLCSky Helicopters IncSkyline Aviation, IncSkyline Aviation, IncSkymates IncSugar Land AviationTarrant County CollegeTexas Aviation Academy, LLCTexas Flight AviationTexas Southern UniversityTexas Southern UniversityTexas State Technical CollegeTexas Woman's UniversityThrust Flight LLC.Thrust Flight, LLC.Thrust Flight, LLC.U S Flight AcademyUhi IncUnited Flight SystemsUS Aviation AcademyUS Aviation Group LLCUS Aviation Group LLCVeracity AviationVeracity Aviation (Pearland)Veracity Aviation (Taylor)

73 of 74 FAA locations plotted. Hollow pins (14) sit at a ZIP centroid rather than the street address. 1 record could not be placed and is in the table only. In the interactive chart, pins group into counts until you zoom in.
Chart tiles: OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, data from OpenStreetMap. Boundaries: US Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (public domain). School positions: US Census geocoder; airfields: FAA NASR.

School (FAA agency name)CityNearest public airportCertificateDesignator
Aerospace N3XTCertificate holder: Cobra Kai Flight Academy, LLCWichita FallsKCWC Kickapoo Downtown, 0.5 mi4CMS171L4CMS
Alamo Helicopter Tours San Antonio LLCSan AntonioKSSF Stinson Municipal, 0.3 mi8AHS659M8AHS
Allen Corporation of AmericaFt. WorthKAFW Perot Field/Fort Worth Alliance, 0.5 miACAS435LACAS
American Flyers IncAddisonKADS Addison, 0.4 miJM8S247QJM8S
American Flyers IncConroeKCXO Conroe/North Houston Regional, 0.4 miJM8S247QY68S
Angelo State UniversitySan AngeloKSJT San Angelo Regional/Mathis Field, 6.2 miASUS044MASUS
ATP Flight AcademyArlingtonKGKY Arlington Municipal, 0.5 miZ8FS785K18FS
Aviator Air LLCGrand PrairieKGPM Grand Prairie Municipal, 0.3 miEBNS047KEBNS
Baylor UniversityWacoKCNW TSTC Waco, 6.8 mi8BYS302L8BYS
Bell Training AcademyCertificate holder: Bell Textron IncHurstKDFW Dallas-Fort Worth International, 10 miFW8S153QFW8S
Bird Acquisition LLCGeorgetownKGTU Georgetown Executive, 0.4 miFQAS173S3FQS
Central Texas CollegeKilleenKILE Skylark Field, 0.4 miDU8S099QDU8S
Coast Flight Training and ManagementSan MarcosKHYI San Marcos Regional, 7.3 mi (approx.)9CFS980K99CS
Coast Flight Training and ManagementDallasKRBD Dallas Executive, 0.3 mi9CFS980KCT0S
Coyote Flight and Training CenterCertificate holder: Coyote Flight Centers LLCAmarilloKTDW Tradewind, 0.6 mi5YTS307L5YTS
Delta-Qualiflight AviationCertificate holder: Delta Aeronautics IncFt. WorthKFTW Fort Worth Meacham International, 0.3 mi (approx.)GTUS483EGTUS
Epic Aviation, IncAddisonKADS Addison, 0.2 miEPXS700K0092
Epic Aviation, IncAlso listed as designator 0191 at this addressDenisonKGYI North Texas Regional/Perrin Field, 0.5 miEPXS700K0190
Epic Aviation, IncSame site as designator 0190; one page covers bothDenisonKGYI North Texas Regional/Perrin Field, 0.5 miEPXS700K0191
Flying Tigers Flight School, LtdHoustonKEFD Ellington, 0.8 miGR8S174QGR8S
Genesis Flight AcademyCertificate holder: Genesis Flight Academy, LLCGeorgetownKGTU Georgetown Executive, 0.5 mi7GNS207L7GNS
HCH Aviation LLCBurkeKLFK Angelina County, 3.3 mi (approx.)KMTS445L0197
HCH Aviation LLCNacogdochesKOCH Nacogdoches A L Mangham JR Regional, 0.6 miKMTS445LKMTS
Helicopter Experts IncBulverde1T8 Bulverde Airpark, 0.3 miH2ES481KH2ES
Helicopter InstituteCertificate holder: Longhorn Helicopters IncFort WorthKFTW Fort Worth Meacham International, 0.3 mi (approx.)L62S072LL62S
Hub City AviationCertificate holder: Hub City Aviation Academy LLCLubbockKLBB Lubbock Preston Smith International, 0.8 mi7HUS328L7HUS
Huffman Aviation LLCBurlesonKFWS Fort Worth Spinks, 0.8 miJDHS441LJDHS
Illinois Aviation Academy, LLCGrand PrairieKGPM Grand Prairie Municipal, 0.3 mi2ILS296L0201
Kachemak Bay Flying Service, LLCTempleKTPL Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional, 0.5 miK68S374YK68S
Leadership in Flight Training LLCGalvestonKGLS Scholes International at Galveston, 0.4 mi1L7S292L0015
Letourneau UniversityLongviewKGGG East Texas Regional, 1.3 mi (approx.)GM8S169QGM8S
Lonestar College Conroe CenterConreKCXO Conroe/North Houston Regional, 1.8 miLSCS029MLSCS
Marcair AviationCertificate holder: Marcair IncRoanoke52F Aero Valley, 0.4 miY33S875KY33S
Monarch AirCertificate holder: Menagerie Enterprises IncDenisonKGYI North Texas Regional/Perrin Field, 5.6 mi (approx.)MNGS501GMNGS
New Braunfels (KBAZ)New BraunfelsKBAZ New Braunfels NTL, 1.7 mi (approx.)W78S781I0131
Parrish Aviation Flight Academy, LLCFort WorthT67 Hicks Airfield, 0.2 miRBDS095M0200
Parrish Aviation Flight Academy, LLCDallasKRBD Dallas Executive, 0.6 miRBDS095MRBDS
Pilots Choice Aviation IncGeorgetownKGTU Georgetown Executive, 0.5 miPQQS044KPQQS
Pro AircraftSame site as designator PAFS; one page covers bothFort WorthT67 Hicks Airfield, 0.3 miZYFS946LZYFS
Pro Aircraft Flight TrainingCertificate holder: Pro AircraftAlso listed as designator ZYFS at this addressFort WorthT67 Hicks Airfield, 0.3 miPAFS434LPAFS
Raider Aviation LLCSlatonF49 City of Slaton/Larry T Neal Meml, 0.2 mi41DS387L41DS
Rich Aviation Services, LLCFort WorthKFTW Fort Worth Meacham International, 0.4 mi3RIS384C3RIS
Sky Helicopters IncGarlandKDAL Dallas Love Field, 10 miS4HS169YS4HS
Sky Safety Flight AcademyCertificate holder: Sky Safety IncSan AntonioKSSF Stinson Municipal, 0.3 miY08S861KY08S
Skyline Aviation, IncAbileneKABI Abilene Regional, 11 mi (approx.)K17S642K0145
Skyline Aviation, IncSan AngeloKSJT San Angelo Regional/Mathis Field, 0.7 miK17S642KK17S
Skymates IncGrand PrairieKGPM Grand Prairie Municipal, 0.2 miK9YS609KK9YS
Stephen F. Austin State UniversityAddress could not be located; listed onlyNacogdochesn/aSAUS064MSAUS
Sugar Land AviationCertificate holder: Anson Air LLCSugar LandKSGR Sugar Land Regional, 0.5 miUZGS810KUZGS
Tarrant County CollegeFort WorthKAFW Perot Field/Fort Worth Alliance, 0.9 mi72CS957L72CS
Texas Aviation Academy, LLCNew BraunfelsKBAZ New Braunfels NTL, 0.4 mi9CZS362C9CZS
Texas Flight AviationSpringKDWH David Wayne Hooks Meml, 0.8 mi9TES130L9TES
Texas Southern UniversityHoustonKHOU William P Hobby, 7.5 mi9TUS172L9TUS
Texas Southern UniversityHoustonKHOU William P Hobby, 8.4 mi9TUS172LBTUS
Texas State AviationCertificate holder: Gryphon Aviation IncSan MarcosKHYI San Marcos Regional, 7.3 mi (approx.)G7YS559KG7YS
Texas State Technical CollegeAlso listed as designator TSTS at this addressWacoKCNW TSTC Waco, 1.0 mi (approx.)FT8S150QFT8S
Texas State Technical CollegeSame site as designator FT8S; one page covers bothWacoKCNW TSTC Waco, 1.0 mi (approx.)TSTS863KTSTS
Texas Woman's UniversityDentonKDTO Denton Enterprise, 4.5 miTWUS065MTWUS
Thrust Flight LLC.AddisonKADS Addison, 0.4 mi3USS960L3USS
Thrust Flight LLC.Fort WorthKFWS Fort Worth Spinks, 0.3 mi3USS960L0187
Thrust Flight, LLC.ConroeKCXO Conroe/North Houston Regional, 2.8 mi (approx.)3USS960L0046
Thrust Flight, LLC.DenisonKGYI North Texas Regional/Perrin Field, 0.6 mi3USS960LUS1S
U S Flight AcademyPost5F1 Post-Garza County Municipal, 2.1 mi2USS311L2USS
Uhi IncWacoKACT Waco Regional, 1.3 mi (approx.)U4OS918K3U4S
United Flight SystemsSpringKDWH David Wayne Hooks Meml, 0.4 miIUFS650TIUFS
US Aviation AcademyCertificate holder: US Aviation Group LLC.DentonKDTO Denton Enterprise, 0.3 miU9FS750KU9FS
US Aviation Academy - North TexasCertificate holder: US Aviation Group LLCSan MarcosKHYI San Marcos Regional, 7.3 mi (approx.)W78S781IW78S
US Aviation Group LLCFort WorthKAFW Perot Field/Fort Worth Alliance, 0.9 miU9FS750K1U9S
US Aviation Group LLCKerrvilleKERV Kerrville Municipal/Louis Schreiner Field, 0.3 miU9FS750K49FS
US Aviation Group LLCConroeKCXO Conroe/North Houston Regional, 0.5 miU9FS750K69FS
Veracity AviationSeguinE70 Huber Airpark Civic Club LLC, 0.1 miV79S964KV79S
Veracity Aviation (Fort Worth)Fort WorthKAFW Perot Field/Fort Worth Alliance, 0.9 miV79S964KV71S
Veracity Aviation (Pearland)PearlandKLVJ Pearland Regional, 0.2 miV79S964K79VS
Veracity Aviation (Taylor)TaylorT74 Taylor Municipal, 0.3 miV79S964K179S

Listed alphabetically, never ranked. Hover or tap a row to light its pin on the plate, and use the location button to sort the list by distance from you. Source: FAA AV-Info "Find a Facility", 14 CFR Part 141 pilot schools, public domain, data updated 24 Aug 2026; status as reported by the FAA on that date. Nearest public-use airport from FAA NASR (effective 6 August 2026). See the national Part 141 directory for every state.

Published pricing anchors behind the Texas range

The PPL, Cessna 172 and CFI bands above are aggregated from these schools' published pricing pages (verified April 2026). They are pricing evidence, not a recommendation; the FAA list above is the authority on who is certificated.

SchoolLocationPublished pricingSource
ATP Flight SchoolMultiple TX locationsACPP fixed pricing $123,995 zero-time / $90,995 with PPL creditView
Thrust FlightAddison (Dallas)Per-hour, see published ratesView
Parrish AviationDallasPer-hour, see published ratesView
US Aviation AcademyDentonProgramme pricing not always publicly listedView
Wayman AviationHoustonPer-hour, see published ratesView
CTC AviationTexas hubsProgramme pricing not publicly listedView

Pricing is current to April 2026 from the published source. Verify with the school at the time of enrolment.

Texas-specific cost factors

  • No state income tax (relevant for working-CFI time-builders)
  • Low fuel cost relative to coastal states
  • Hazlewood Act covers tuition for veterans with Texas ties at degree-granting Part 141 collegiate programmes
  • Strong pilot-employer presence (American Airlines, Southwest, regional carriers) for post-CFI placement
  • Community-college route available: Lone Star College's Professional Pilot AAS in Conroe runs a $97,691.50 flight-training estimate at U.S. Aviation Group. See the Lone Star College pilot cost breakdown.

Scholarships and grants

Major aviation scholarships available regardless of state include AOPA Flight Training Scholarships, EAA Flight Training Scholarships, Women in Aviation International, OBAP, NGPA, LeRoy Homer Foundation, and Tuskegee NEXT.

Texas-specific programmes:

VA-approved Part 141 schools in Texas

Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill must enrol at a VA-approved Part 141 school for flight training to be covered. The current VA-approved school list is published at VA.gov. Some of the FAA-listed Part 141 schools above are VA-approved, but the FAA list does not record VA approval; verify each school individually at the VA site at the time of enrolment.

See the financing options page for the GI Bill PPL-coverage gap and the alternatives available to veterans.

Texas flight school cost: frequently asked questions

How many FAA-certificated Part 141 flight schools are in Texas?

The FAA's Part 141 pilot-school list (data updated 24 Aug 2026) carries 74 certificated locations in Texas under 56 air agency certificates, ranking the state #2 of 51 states and territories by location count. The largest clusters are Fort Worth (9), Denison (4) and Waco (4). 52 of the 74 listed addresses are under a mile from a public-use airport. The full list is on this page; Part 61 instructors are not certificated and so do not appear.

How much does flight school cost in Texas?

A Private Pilot License (PPL) in Texas costs roughly $11,000 to $16,000 all-in, aggregated across named-school published pricing. That covers aircraft rental, instructor time, ground school, exams, and supplies through the FAA checkride. Full career-track training from zero to ATP minimums runs far higher, on the order of $110,000 via the traditional path or $123,995 via the ATP Flight School fixed-price programme.

What is the hourly Cessna 172 rental rate in Texas?

Cessna 172 wet rental (fuel included) in Texas runs about $170 to $210 per hour, varying by metro and school. Dallas-Fort Worth sits around $175 to $215 per hour for a wet rate.

How much do flight instructors (CFIs) charge in Texas?

CFI instruction in Texas typically costs $55 to $80 per hour, whether an independent instructor or Part 141 staff. CFI time is billed on top of aircraft rental, not instead of it.

Does the Post-9/11 GI Bill cover flight training in Texas?

Yes, but only at VA-approved Part 141 schools, and coverage begins at the Instrument Rating rather than the PPL (it requires a current PPL and FAA medical in hand). For the 2026-2027 academic year (effective 1 August 2026), the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays the net cost of vocational Part 141 flight training up to $17,662 a year. Confirm a school's VA approval at VA.gov before enrolling.

Continue reading

Primary sources

  1. Pilot License Cost. AOPA, accessed April 2026. https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/pilot-license-cost
  2. AV-Info Find a Facility: 14 CFR Part 141 Pilot Schools. Federal Aviation Administration, data updated 24 Aug 2026, captured 28 August 2026. https://www.faa.gov/av-info/facility-dashboard
  3. NASR 28-day subscription, airport data (APT_BASE), effective 6 August 2026. FAA Aeronautical Information Services, accessed August 2026. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/aero_data/NASR_Subscription/
  4. Climate Normals (VFR-day data). NOAA, accessed April 2026. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals
  5. ATP Flight School published pricing page (pricing anchor). Multiple TX locations, accessed April 2026. https://atpflightschool.com/locations/
  6. Thrust Flight published pricing page (pricing anchor). Addison (Dallas), accessed April 2026. https://www.thrustflight.com/
  7. Parrish Aviation published pricing page (pricing anchor). Dallas, accessed April 2026. https://parrishaviation.com/
  8. US Aviation Academy published pricing page (pricing anchor). Denton, accessed April 2026. https://www.usaviationacademy.com/
  9. Wayman Aviation published pricing page (pricing anchor). Houston, accessed April 2026. https://wayman.aero/
  10. CTC Aviation published pricing page (pricing anchor). Texas hubs, accessed April 2026. https://www.ctcaviation.com/
  11. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board grants. State / institution, accessed April 2026. https://www.highered.texas.gov/
  12. Hazlewood Act (veterans). State / institution, accessed April 2026. https://www.tvc.texas.gov/education/hazlewood-act/

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