Southern Illinois University - School of Aviation

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's School of Aviation has been training professional aviators from its campus adjacent to the Southern Illinois Airport (KMDH) in Murphysboro, Illinois, for decades. The program is accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), placing it among the nation's elite collegiate aviation programs, and prepares students for FAA Commercial Pilot certificates with Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings.

The school operates a fleet of 38 aircraft, primarily Cessna 152s, 172s, and 310Rs, with Piper Arrows added in 2018 to expand advanced training capabilities. Students train from the university's Transportation Education Center (TEC)—a 185,000-square-foot facility at Southern Illinois Airport housing the aviation and automotive departments—giving them access to modern simulation devices, laboratories, and professional aviation facilities alongside active runways. Southern Illinois Airport is one of the busiest airports in Illinois, providing students with extensive exposure to real-world operations throughout their training.

SIU offers three undergraduate degree paths in aviation: Aviation Flight (the pilot track), Aviation Management, and Aviation Technologies, plus a master's program in Aviation Management. The school has a longstanding articulation agreement with Southwestern Illinois College, allowing SWIC aviation graduates to transfer into SIU's four-year program seamlessly. Graduates of SIU's aviation programs have gone on to careers with major and regional airlines, corporate flight departments, and the military, benefiting from the school's strong industry connections and decades of placement history.