GET TO KNOW THE SCHOOL
A closer look.
Rochester Community and Technical College’s Aviation Pilot associate degree links college coursework with flight laboratories delivered by Great Planes Aviation at Rochester International Airport. The published two-year pathway includes private, instrument and commercial training in single-engine and multiengine airplanes; students can also pursue instructor training. Academic courses may use campus, online or hybrid formats, while the flight laboratories take place at the airport. The program describes a transfer route to Minnesota State University, Mankato and conditional restricted-ATP eligibility for qualifying graduates. Admission, medical documentation and separate flight costs deserve early attention because they affect entry into the flying portion of the degree.
College and flight provider
RCTC delivers the academic program and identifies Great Planes Aviation at Rochester International Airport as the flight-laboratory provider.
Two-year qualification sequence
The published pathway includes private, instrument, commercial single-engine and commercial multiengine work, with an additional instructor-training option.
Eligibility and transfer
The program describes a Minnesota State Mankato transfer route and restricted-ATP eligibility subject to the applicable graduate requirements. Its FAQ also identifies applicant and veterans-benefit limitations that should be checked before enrollment.
Published training options.
The school’s published options are summarized below. Each note explains the training type and what to clarify when comparing the school’s exact course.
Private pilot
A private-pilot training path. Compare the aircraft used, ground-school arrangements and how lessons progress from initial skills to practical-test preparation.
Instrument rating
Training focused on instrument flying, procedures and planning. Compare aircraft and simulator use, scheduling and the preparation expected before flight lessons.
Commercial single-engine pilot
A commercial-pilot training option. Ask which aircraft category, prerequisites, experience-building flights and practical-test preparation are included.
Commercial multiengine pilot
A commercial-pilot training option. Ask which aircraft category, prerequisites, experience-building flights and practical-test preparation are included.
Flight-instructor training option
Training in teaching, lesson preparation and instructional flying. Ask which instructor qualification is included and how practice teaching is assessed.
Aviation Pilot associate degree
An academic pathway with its own entry and graduation requirements. Compare the flight qualifications, academic credits and flight fees included in your chosen track.
Ground school
Study and knowledge preparation. Confirm the delivery format, included materials, instructor support and any separate flight-training requirement.
Online or hybrid academic delivery does not make the flight-laboratory portion an online course. Restricted-ATP eligibility is conditional; it is not an ATP certificate or a job guarantee.
Aircraft & training scope
Aircraft categories: Airplane
Aircraft models: A current model list was not established from the reviewed sources. Ask which aircraft or training device your course uses.
This profile covers the RCTC Aviation Pilot academic program and its published Rochester-based Great Planes Aviation flight arrangement.
No current training-aircraft model was established from the reviewed college pages. Applicants should confirm current admissions and veterans-benefit rules with the college before relying on funding assumptions.
Training framework & verification
Part 141: Matched to the FAA roster dated 2026-10-19. Confirm the approved course and training location with the school. The workbook does not list individual course approvals or establish training quality.
FAA reference: faa.gov. Confirm the approved course and training location with the school.
PART 141 SOURCE CHECK
FAA roster information.
This listing is matched to the supplied FAA Part 141 roster record. Confirm the approved course and training location with the school; the roster does not list course approvals or establish training quality.
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Certificate GPAS452LLocation designator GPAS
Address as recorded: 851 30TH AVENUE SE, ROCHESTER, MN 55904
Use the faa.gov facility dashboard for future cross-reference. The dated record above reflects the FAA workbook used for this directory update. How we check records
TRAINING FIT
Our school review.
RCTC offers a defined college-to-airport arrangement for a student who wants an associate degree alongside professional-pilot preparation. The division between college classes and Great Planes flight labs needs practical planning, especially for transportation and timetable coordination. The program’s FAQ also sets out eligibility and funding limitations that may affect an applicant. Ask for a complete degree-and-flight plan, including whether instructor training is optional and how extra training hours are billed.
An AI-assisted editorial assessment of the school’s published information. This is separate from student feedback. We have not attended or inspected this school.
WHAT THE AVAILABLE FEEDBACK TELLS US
Student review evidence.
Niche evidence: Niche's review page covers Rochester Community And Technical College as an institution. Its overall feedback is useful for considering the broader college experience, but the page-level rating is not an assessment of the flight-training program or this location's aircraft and instructors. General institutional reviews are not separated into a representative aviation-program sample. Ask aviation students specifically about flight slots, additional flight fees, instructor changes, and time to complete each certificate.
How to read this evidence
General institutional reviews are not separated into a representative aviation-program sample.
Follow up with the school
- Can I speak with recent students who completed this course at this location?
- What are the current booking delays, instructor continuity arrangements, and typical total completion costs?
Read the review sources
- Rochester Community & Technical College Reviews - Niche Third-party source
General institutional reviews are not separated into a representative aviation-program sample.
AI-assisted summary of the cited material. Public comments are individual experiences; the sample may be small, selective, or dated.
How we prepare review summariesMAKE YOUR NEXT CONVERSATION COUNT
Questions for Rochester Community And Technical College.
- Which flight courses are required for the associate degree, and is CFI training an additional option?
- How will my college timetable connect with Great Planes Aviation flight labs at Rochester International?
- Do I meet the program’s current citizenship, medical and funding eligibility rules?
- What costs are included in flight labs, what happens if I need extra hours, and how is restricted-ATP eligibility documented?
Sources & listing information.
School facts are compiled from the source material below. Imported record identifiers are retained for traceability and are not presented as proof of current certification.
- Official Rochester Community And Technical College information
- Official Rochester Community And Technical College information
- Official Rochester Community And Technical College information
- Source-record reference: checkrides.ioReference retained from the supplied spreadsheet; current content not rechecked for this import.
- faa.gov — Find a FacilityFAA pilot-school facility reference. Part 61 instruction is not a separate FAA school certification.
View source record references
GPAS452L
Part_141_Flight_School_Websites (1).csv; faaverifiedp141.xlsx