Need a job in drones? The barrier, for a lot of college students and educators, is value. The drones themselves aren’t low cost (most digital camera drones will run $1,000 or extra). The FAA Half 107 certification examination prices $175. Classroom drone curriculum can run hundreds of {dollars}.
The excellent news: a rising variety of organizations are actively making an attempt to take away these value obstacles by the use of drone scholarships and grants. Right here’s a whole information to the drone scholarships and grants at the moment out there — for college students who need to get licensed, pilots who need to advance their careers, and educators who need to carry drone know-how into their school rooms.
Drone scholarships and grants
For college kids: Elevate Scholarship Program
- What it covers: $175 FAA Half 107 certification check charge
- Who can apply: College students ages 16-24 at the moment enrolled in aviation or uncrewed techniques packages
- Functions open: June 1, 2026
- Variety of scholarships: 300
The Elevate Scholarship Program covers the $175 FAA Half 107 check charge. This system is run by the Nationwide Heart for Autonomous Applied sciences and backed by a powerful roster of trade companions together with FlyGuys, Prime Air, DroneDeploy, the FAA CTI Program and AUVSI.
There’s no GPA requirement, simply that eligibility is proscribed to college students at the moment enrolled in an aviation or uncrewed techniques program. Functions are reviewed inside one to 3 weeks of submission, and scholarship funds are disbursed as vouchers by means of PSI Testing.
What makes Elevate notably beneficial is what occurs after certification. FlyGuys — the nationwide market connecting FAA-certified drone pilots with enterprise purchasers throughout development, engineering, vitality, insurance coverage, and logistics — is a returning backer particularly as a result of Elevate recipients who earn their Half 107 can plug instantly into FlyGuys’ community of 20,000+ pilots and begin working with actual enterprise purchasers.
“Elevate offers younger folks an actual manner in: abilities, certification and a transparent path into an trade that’s rising quick and altering even quicker,” mentioned Joe Stough, CEO of FlyGuys in a ready assertion. “This opens the door for individuals who may not in any other case see themselves on this area and provides them the instruments to step into it with confidence.”
In the event you’re a pupil ages 16-24 in an aviation or uncrewed techniques program, mark June 1 in your calendar and apply as quickly as purposes open. 300 scholarships go rapidly.
Apply at: elevatescholarship.org
For educators: UAV Coach Drone Training Grant
- What it covers: As much as $3,000 in curriculum entry (one educational 12 months of UAV Coach Drone Academy)
- Who can apply: Highschool educators solely
- Grant ranges: As much as 20 college students ($1,500 worth) or as much as 50 college students ($3,000 worth)
- Deadline: Rolling, however apply earlier than summer season break for the upcoming faculty 12 months
- Apply at: UAV Coach web site
In the event you’re a highschool instructor who needs to carry drone schooling into your classroom however doesn’t have the price range for curriculum, the UAV Coach Drone Training Grant may assist.
Accredited colleges obtain one educational 12 months of complimentary entry to UAV Coach Drone Academy — a 30+ hour turnkey drone curriculum designed for classroom implementation, overlaying every part college students have to earn their FAA Distant Pilot Certificates. The grant is available in two ranges relying on class dimension: as much as 20 college students ($1,500 worth) or as much as 50 college students ($3,000 worth).
A number of necessary notes: colleges could solely obtain this grant one time, and it’s open to highschool educators solely. Functions are reviewed on a rolling foundation, however UAV Coach recommends making use of earlier than summer season break to make sure entry is in place for the upcoming faculty 12 months. The appliance takes about half-hour to finish.
For questions, e mail Judy at enroll@uavcoach.com.
Apply at: UAV Coach
For colleges and nonprofits: Greatest Purchase Basis Grants
- What it covers: Expertise entry, profession coaching, STEAM abilities programming
- Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations and colleges assembly particular standards
- Utility home windows: Fluctuate by grant kind
- Apply at: bestbuyfoundation.org
The Greatest Purchase Basis funds organizations centered on constructing brighter futures for teenagers by means of know-how entry and profession coaching — which makes drone and aviation schooling a pure match for a number of of its grant packages.
The Teen Tech Heart program funds nonprofit companions to host know-how facilities giving youth entry to present know-how, mentors, and profession programming. The Technical Expertise Companion Grants fund nonprofits offering hands-on STEAM abilities coaching and paid summer season internships to teenagers within the Teen Tech Heart Profession Pathways program. In case your group runs after-school or workforce growth programming that comes with drones or autonomous techniques, these grants are price exploring.
Observe that Greatest Purchase Basis grants are primarily invitation-based for the Teen Tech Heart program, however the Technical Expertise Companion Grants have an open software window (purposes usually open January 2 and shut April 1 for the Profession Pathways program). Examine the inspiration’s web site for present timelines.
Extra data: bestbuyfoundation.org
For colleges and nonprofits: Northrop Grumman Basis
- What it covers: STEM schooling and workforce growth initiatives
- Who can apply: 501(c)(3) organizations by invitation solely
The Northrop Grumman Basis funds STEM schooling and workforce growth initiatives centered on growing entry to and participation in STEM studying and constructing the pipeline to the technical workforce. For organizations operating drone education schemes — notably these centered on underrepresented communities or workforce growth — that is price understanding about.
One necessary caveat: all Northrop Grumman Basis grants are by invitation solely. The Basis doesn’t settle for unsolicited requests. Nonetheless, the Basis does provide a Matching Items for Training program for Northrop Grumman staff — if you realize any NG staff, their private donations to your group may be matched dollar-for-dollar as much as $2,500.Extra data: northropgrumman.com
A number of extra assets price understanding
Drone Launch Academy affords its Half 107 course at $199 — use code DRONEGIRL50 to carry that right down to $149. It additionally has a cross assure: in the event you fail the in-person examination, Drone Launch Academy can pay on your retake. For college kids who don’t qualify for the Elevate Scholarship or the Drone Pilot Floor College scholarship, that is probably the most reasonably priced path to certification with a significant security internet.
AUVSI — the Affiliation for Unmanned Automobile Programs Worldwide — maintains a broader scholarship database for college students pursuing careers in unmanned techniques. It’s price checking their web site for added alternatives past what’s listed right here.
And in the event you’re an educator constructing a drone program and need curriculum steerage past what’s coated by these grants, our full information to drone lesson plans covers every part from free assets to paid curriculum choices at each stage.
Know of a drone scholarship or grant I missed? Contact me right here and I’ll add it to the information.
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