Want a job in drones? The barrier, for many students and educators, is cost. The drones themselves are not cheap (most camera drones will run $1,000 or more). The FAA Part 107 certification exam costs $175. Classroom drone curriculum can run thousands of dollars.
The good news: a growing number of organizations are actively trying to remove those cost barriers by way of drone scholarships and grants. Here’s a complete guide to the drone scholarships and grants currently available — for students who want to get certified, pilots who want to advance their careers, and educators who want to bring drone technology into their classrooms.
Drone scholarships and grants
For students: Elevate Scholarship Program
- What it covers: $175 FAA Part 107 certification test fee
- Who can apply: Students ages 16-24 currently enrolled in aviation or uncrewed systems programs
- Applications open: June 1, 2026
- Number of scholarships: 300
The Elevate Scholarship Program covers the $175 FAA Part 107 test fee. The program is administered by the National Center for Autonomous Technologies and backed by a strong roster of industry partners including FlyGuys, Prime Air, DroneDeploy, the FAA CTI Program and AUVSI.
There’s no GPA requirement, just that eligibility is limited to students currently enrolled in an aviation or uncrewed systems program. Applications are reviewed within one to three weeks of submission, and scholarship funds are disbursed as vouchers through PSI Testing.
What makes Elevate particularly valuable is what happens after certification. FlyGuys — the nationwide marketplace connecting FAA-certified drone pilots with enterprise clients across construction, engineering, energy, insurance, and logistics — is a returning backer specifically because Elevate recipients who earn their Part 107 can plug directly into FlyGuys’ network of 20,000+ pilots and start working with real enterprise clients.
“Elevate gives young people a real way in: skills, certification and a clear path into an industry that’s growing fast and changing even faster,” said Joe Stough, CEO of FlyGuys in a prepared statement. “This opens the door for those who might not otherwise see themselves in this space and gives them the tools to step into it with confidence.”
If you’re a student ages 16-24 in an aviation or uncrewed systems program, mark June 1 on your calendar and apply as soon as applications open. 300 scholarships go quickly.
Apply at: elevatescholarship.org
For educators: UAV Coach Drone Education Grant
- What it covers: Up to $3,000 in curriculum access (one academic year of UAV Coach Drone Academy)
- Who can apply: High school educators only
- Grant levels: Up to 20 students ($1,500 value) or up to 50 students ($3,000 value)
- Deadline: Rolling, but apply before summer break for the upcoming school year
- Apply at: UAV Coach website
If you’re a high school teacher who wants to bring drone education into your classroom but doesn’t have the budget for curriculum, the UAV Coach Drone Education Grant could help.
Approved schools receive one academic year of complimentary access to UAV Coach Drone Academy — a 30+ hour turnkey drone curriculum designed for classroom implementation, covering everything students need to earn their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. The grant comes in two levels depending on class size: up to 20 students ($1,500 value) or up to 50 students ($3,000 value).
A few important notes: schools may only receive this grant one time, and it’s open to high school educators only. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but UAV Coach recommends applying before summer break to ensure access is in place for the upcoming school year. The application takes about 30 minutes to complete.
For questions, email Judy at enroll@uavcoach.com.
Apply at: UAV Coach
For schools and nonprofits: Best Buy Foundation Grants
- What it covers: Technology access, career training, STEAM skills programming
- Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations and schools meeting specific criteria
- Application windows: Vary by grant type
- Apply at: bestbuyfoundation.org
The Best Buy Foundation funds organizations focused on building brighter futures for teens through technology access and career training — which makes drone and aviation education a natural fit for several of its grant programs.
The Teen Tech Center program funds nonprofit partners to host technology centers giving youth access to current technology, mentors, and career programming. The Technical Skills Partner Grants fund nonprofits providing hands-on STEAM skills training and paid summer internships to teens in the Teen Tech Center Career Pathways program. If your organization runs after-school or workforce development programming that incorporates drones or autonomous systems, these grants are worth exploring.
Note that Best Buy Foundation grants are primarily invitation-based for the Teen Tech Center program, but the Technical Skills Partner Grants have an open application window (applications typically open January 2 and close April 1 for the Career Pathways program). Check the foundation’s website for current timelines.
More information: bestbuyfoundation.org
For schools and nonprofits: Northrop Grumman Foundation
- What it covers: STEM education and workforce development initiatives
- Who can apply: 501(c)(3) organizations by invitation only
The Northrop Grumman Foundation funds STEM education and workforce development initiatives focused on increasing access to and participation in STEM learning and building the pipeline to the technical workforce. For organizations running drone education programs — particularly those focused on underrepresented communities or workforce development — this is worth knowing about.
One important caveat: all Northrop Grumman Foundation grants are by invitation only. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. However, the Foundation does offer a Matching Gifts for Education program for Northrop Grumman employees — if you know any NG employees, their personal donations to your organization can be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $2,500.More information: northropgrumman.com
A few additional resources worth knowing
Drone Launch Academy offers its Part 107 course at $199 — use code DRONEGIRL50 to bring that down to $149. It also has a pass guarantee: if you fail the in-person exam, Drone Launch Academy will pay for your retake. For students who don’t qualify for the Elevate Scholarship or the Drone Pilot Ground School scholarship, this is the most affordable path to certification with a meaningful safety net.
AUVSI — the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International — maintains a broader scholarship database for students pursuing careers in unmanned systems. It’s worth checking their website for additional opportunities beyond what’s listed here.
And if you’re an educator building a drone program and want curriculum guidance beyond what’s covered by these grants, our full guide to drone lesson plans covers everything from free resources to paid curriculum options at every level.
Know of a drone scholarship or grant I missed? Contact me here and I’ll add it to the guide.
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