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.
Metro-tier breakdown
| Metro | Cessna 172 wet | CFI 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 |
Named flight schools (alphabetical)
| School | Location | Part | Pricing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATP Flight School | Multiple TX locations | Part 141 | ACPP fixed pricing $123,995 zero-time / $90,995 with PPL credit | View |
| Thrust Flight | Addison (Dallas) | Part 61 / 141 | Per-hour, see published rates | View |
| Parrish Aviation | Dallas | Part 61 / 141 | Per-hour, see published rates | View |
| US Aviation Academy | Denton | Part 141 | Programme pricing not always publicly listed | View |
| Wayman Aviation | Houston | Part 61 / 141 | Per-hour, see published rates | View |
| CTC Aviation | Texas hubs | Part 141 | Programme pricing not publicly listed | View |
Schools listed alphabetically, never ranked. 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
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. Several of the named-Part-141 schools above are VA-approved; verify each 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.
Continue reading
Primary sources
- Pilot License Cost. AOPA, accessed April 2026. https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/pilot-license-cost
- Approved Part 141 Pilot Schools. FAA, accessed April 2026. https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/schools
- Climate Normals (VFR-day data). NOAA, accessed April 2026. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals
- ATP Flight School pricing page. Multiple TX locations, accessed April 2026. https://atpflightschool.com/airline-career-pilot-program/locations.html
- Thrust Flight pricing page. Addison (Dallas), accessed April 2026. https://www.thrustflight.com/
- Parrish Aviation pricing page. Dallas, accessed April 2026. https://parrishaviation.com/
- US Aviation Academy pricing page. Denton, accessed April 2026. https://www.usaviationacademy.com/
- Wayman Aviation pricing page. Houston, accessed April 2026. https://wayman.aero/
- CTC Aviation pricing page. Texas hubs, accessed April 2026. https://www.ctcaviation.com/
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board grants. State / institution, accessed April 2026. https://www.highered.texas.gov/
- Hazlewood Act (veterans). State / institution, accessed April 2026. https://www.tvc.texas.gov/education/hazlewood-act/