EAA Opens Applications for 2026-27 Flight Scholarships

The Oshkosh-based aviation foundation is now accepting applications for students pursuing flight training and education.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Scholarships

Bold vector editorial illustration featuring a small airplane on a grass airfield, symbolizing opportunities for student pilots. — The EAA Aviation Foundation has opened its scholarship application cycle for students seeking financial assistance for flight training and aviation education. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The EAA Aviation Foundation has officially opened the application process for its 2026-27 scholarship cycle. These funds are designed to assist students in covering costs for both flight training and post-secondary aviation education.

Why it matters

The program aims to lower the financial barriers facing young people who are pursuing aviation careers. By providing grants, the foundation supports the next generation of pilots and aerospace professionals.

Eligible applicants must be at least 16 years old by March 1, 2027, to qualify for the program. The EAA Aviation Foundation supported 106 students with over $680,000 in total funding during the previous year.

The players

EAA Aviation Foundation

This organization is based in Oshkosh and coordinates educational aviation initiatives and scholarship programs.

The details

Interested students can submit their applications to cover expenses related to flight training or relevant post-secondary programs. The funding is sourced entirely through charitable donations provided to the Oshkosh-based organization.

Applications for the 2026-27 scholarship cycle opened on October 16, 2026.
The deadline to submit all scholarship applications is December 16, 2026.
Scholarship awards are scheduled to be announced on March 1, 2027.

Culture Shift

The EAA Aviation Foundation's annual scholarship funding model highlights a broader industry trend of subsidizing high-cost flight training to address the ongoing pilot shortage. This move underscores a shift toward lowering entry barriers for younger, non-traditional aviation students.

Prospective applicants must ensure their paperwork is filed before the December deadline to remain eligible for the upcoming cycle. Interested students should review all requirements to determine if their specific training program qualifies for funding support.

The takeaway

Students looking to enter the aviation field should treat the December deadline as a hard cutoff for their submission materials. Careful preparation of application documents is essential to meet the eligibility criteria for the 2026-27 academic term.