WINGS Act: Aviation COA Costs

Summary#

This bill, the WINGS Act of 2026, changes the Higher Education Act so that certain aviation training and licensing costs can be included in a student's "cost of attendance" (COA). It also updates a federal definition of "professional student" to cover certain aviation training programs. The goal is to make aviation-related training costs count when schools set students’ COA for federal aid.

• Main change to COA: Schools may include reasonable costs for licensure, certification, and aviation training (for qualifying programs) when they calculate a student's COA. Examples listed include aircraft or simulator instructional hours, lab fees, training materials, and exam or licensing fees.
• Which programs qualify: Programs that award an associate’s or bachelor’s degree and have certain CIP codes (including those beginning with 49.01, or specific 47.0607–47.0609) or programs the Secretary of Education identifies as preparing students for aviation jobs.
• Definition change: The bill expands a federal definition of “professional student” to include programs that award a professional degree (as defined in existing federal rules) or provide training described in current aviation training rules (14 CFR part 141).
• Timing: The COA change starts July 1, 2027 and applies to award year 2027–2028 and later.

What it means for you#

• Students in qualifying aviation programs

  • This could mean schools include flight hours, simulator time, exam fees, and similar costs when setting your COA.
  • If COA rises, students could be eligible for larger federal aid packages, such as more in student loans or other need-based aid. The bill does not itself set how much aid an individual will receive.
  • The bill only covers students in associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs that meet the listed CIP codes or are identified by the Secretary.

• Prospective students and trainees

  • Short certificate or non-degree aviation programs are not covered unless the Secretary identifies them under the bill’s language. This bill focuses on degree programs.

• Colleges and universities

  • Schools that run qualifying aviation programs must decide and document what counts as “reasonable costs” for aviation training when they calculate COA.
  • Institutions may need to change their financial aid packaging and record‑keeping to reflect the new COA items.

• Financial aid administrators

  • Financial aid offices will have to update COA policies and possibly verify aviation training expenses submitted by students.

• Employers, flight schools, and other training providers

  • The bill affects how degree-granting institutions count training costs, not providers that only offer non-degree courses, unless those programs are identified by the Secretary and meet the degree requirement.

• Timing

  • Changes apply starting with the 2027–2028 federal aid award year (effective July 1, 2027).

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

• The bill text does not include a fiscal note or estimate of federal cost.
• This could increase federal student aid spending if higher COA leads to larger aid awards. That is not stated in the bill and would depend on how schools set COA and how aid formulas use it.
• Schools may face administrative costs to define, document, and support the new COA items.
• It is unclear whether the Department of Education would issue guidance or require reporting that could add federal administrative costs.

Proponents' View#

• The bill appears intended to make aviation training costs count toward COA so students can better access federal aid for expensive items like aircraft hours and exam fees.
• Supporters may argue this could remove a financial barrier to entering aviation careers by recognizing training and licensing as legitimate educational expenses.
• The bill targets degree programs tied to employment in aviation, which could focus aid on students seeking industry jobs.
• Including specific cost categories (simulator hours, lab fees, exams) clarifies what kinds of aviation costs institutions may count.

Opponents' View#

• One concern is that the bill gives wide discretion to institutions to determine what is a “reasonable” aviation cost. This could produce inconsistent COA amounts across schools.
• The bill does not include spending limits, caps, or fraud controls tied to the new COA items. That raises questions about oversight and possible increases in federal aid payouts.
• The scope is limited to associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs with specified CIP codes or those the Secretary identifies. Shorter certificate programs or non-degree pathways may be excluded even though they often provide entry into aviation jobs.
• It is unclear how the change to the “professional student” definition will affect existing loan limits, eligibility rules, or other federal aid rules that rely on that definition. The bill does not explain implementation details.