Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle traces its institutional history to a flying school established in 1926 by T. Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle. The organization later operated in Miami, reorganized as a nonprofit institution and moved to Daytona Beach in 1965. It earned institutional accreditation in 1968 and adopted its present university name in 1970. Today, its structure includes residential campuses in Daytona Beach and Prescott, plus Worldwide and online operations; this profile concerns the Daytona Beach campus and university-level facts that apply to it. The university’s identity remains closely tied to aviation and aerospace, but the academic scope is broader than pilot education. Official materials identify work in engineering, space science, aviation safety, cybersecurity, business, human factors and applied sciences. SACSCOC lists Embry-Riddle as an accredited independent institution authorized to award degrees through the doctoral level. The Daytona Beach degree directory confirms active bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral offerings. The campus combines classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, athletics facilities, flight operations and an aviation flight line. Its adjacency to Daytona Beach International Airport is a practical distinction for students in flight-related study. This specialized environment can create strong alignment among coursework, technical facilities and career interests, but applicants should compare program-specific requirements and costs carefully. Flight training, laboratory work and professional certification pathways can create obligations beyond those of a conventional classroom degree, and not every aviation-related program includes pilot training.

First-time undergraduate admission at Daytona Beach uses a holistic review. Embry-Riddle considers overall academic performance, GPA, course rigor, class rank when available, intended major, recommendations and standardized scores when applicable. Applicants submit official high-school and relevant college transcripts; optional materials can provide context but are not substitutes for required records. Certain programs may fill before the stated priority date. For Daytona Beach undergraduates, the current official filing priorities are January 15 for fall, November 1 for spring, April 1 for Summer Term A and June 1 for Summer Term B. Decisions are issued on a rolling basis, with applications received after the priority dates considered as space permits. The listed fall enrollment-deposit date is May 1. These are campus-specific priorities rather than universal deadlines for every Embry-Riddle operation. International students must satisfy the general and program-specific requirements as well as international documentation rules. Applicants with postsecondary education outside the United States generally need an official course-by-course credential evaluation in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must document proficiency through an approved route; the current minimums include IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105 and the university’s applicable TOEFL scale. International applicants to Daytona Beach must apply at least 90 days before classes, with stated deadlines of May 1 for fall, October 1 for spring and March 1 for either summer term. Flight applicants should begin FAA medical-certificate planning early, and non-U.S. citizens undertaking flight training must meet applicable TSA requirements.

The Daytona Beach campus offers education at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Its current degree directory organizes campus offerings across aviation, engineering, arts and sciences, and business. Fields represented include aeronautical science, aviation maintenance science, aerospace engineering, engineering physics, aerospace physiology, astronomy and astrophysics, human factors psychology, space physics, business and aviation-related management. Applicants should use the directory’s campus filter because a program available through Prescott, Worldwide or online study may not be offered in the same form at Daytona Beach. Academic work can extend beyond lectures into flight operations, simulation, laboratories, design projects and research. Official campus materials identify facilities for aviation maintenance, advanced flight simulation, engineering projects and aerospace research. The campus also maintains an Office of Undergraduate Research, and official research pages show undergraduate and graduate work in areas such as atmospheric and space science, aviation safety, materials, aerospace physiology and engineering. Availability depends on program, faculty projects and student preparation, so participation should not be assumed for every student. Some Daytona Beach students can pursue combined or accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s routes. These options have separate eligibility and progression requirements and should be evaluated against the normal degree sequence. Flight students face additional operational requirements: an FAA medical certificate is needed before enrollment in flight classes, although it is not required merely to gain university admission. Program accreditation, licensure preparation and certification requirements also differ by discipline, making the program-level catalog and department pages essential before committing.

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit university with institutional accreditation through the doctoral level
• Founded as a flying school in 1926 and based in Daytona Beach since 1965
• Daytona Beach is a residential degree-delivery campus adjacent to an international airport
• Institutional focus spans aviation, aerospace, engineering, space, safety and related fields

Student Life & Environment

Student life at Daytona Beach is shaped by a residential campus with a strong concentration of aviation, aerospace and technical interests. The university reports more than 280 student-run clubs and organizations, giving students options connected to academic disciplines, professional development, service, identity, recreation and shared interests. The campus map also identifies intercollegiate athletics venues, a fitness complex, fields, tennis facilities, a student union, library, wellness services and spaces for faith and spirituality. Housing is a central part of the early undergraduate experience. Under the policy effective for students entering in spring or fall 2026, incoming first-year students and transfer students under age 21 before September 1 generally must live in Embry-Riddle-managed housing for two academic years. Exemptions include qualifying local residency, age and documented prior residence-hall experience at another accredited institution. Students should read the detailed policy because the rules for first-year, second-year and transfer students are not identical, and housing for students without a residency requirement is subject to space. Campus housing includes several residence-hall and student-village configurations. A designated meal plan accompanies required housing. The concentrated residential setting can make it easier to find peers with similar professional interests, but students seeking a broadly diversified university environment should consider how Embry-Riddle’s specialized enrollment profile fits their preferences.

Location & Surroundings

The Daytona Beach campus is at 1 Aerospace Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida. It sits beside Daytona Beach International Airport, providing convenient air access and an operational setting for flight education. The university describes the Atlantic beach as only minutes away, while Daytona International Speedway, shopping, museums, concerts and waterfront activities form part of the surrounding area. Local transportation requires some planning. Volusia County’s Votran bus system serves the campus and connects with beaches, shopping areas, hospitals and other local destinations. Daytona Beach International Airport is adjacent to campus. Orlando International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport are approximately an hour away by road, and commercial shuttle options connect Orlando with Daytona Beach. Amtrak service is available from DeLand, approximately 30 miles from the university, while the Auto Train operates from Sanford. The warm coastal climate supports year-round flight activity and outdoor recreation, but students should also account for Florida heat, seasonal storms and demand associated with major racing, motorcycle and festival events. Those events can affect local traffic and accommodation availability.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026-27, the standard Daytona Beach undergraduate tuition block for 12 to 16 credits per semester is listed at $45,888 for the academic year, plus $1,926 in mandatory fees. The university’s estimated on-campus cost of attendance is $71,526, including its allowances for housing, food, books, transportation, personal expenses and federal loan fees. This is a planning budget rather than a guaranteed bill. Florida high-school graduates and Aviation Maintenance Science students have separately listed tuition structures, so applicants should use the category that actually applies to them. The 2026-27 on-campus housing allowance is $10,400. The published food estimate using the 21-meal plan is $8,200, while the minimum required 14-meal plan is listed at $6,730. Flight training is not included in tuition or the standard cost of attendance and is charged separately on a pay-as-you-go basis. Engineering, laboratory, equipment, orientation, health-insurance and other program-specific charges may also apply. The page lists current master’s costs, but 2026-27 doctoral costs were still marked as forthcoming as of August 20, 2026. Career preparation is supported through career services, employer recruiting, internships, co-ops and career expos. The university reports that 93 percent of its 2023-24 cohort was employed or continuing education within one year, with a $71,000 median salary among graduates within one year. These are university-reported cohort outcomes, not guarantees for Daytona Beach students or for any particular major. Prospective students should request program-level placement, licensing and salary data before comparing the return on higher-cost flight or technical pathways.