Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

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.