Alma mater airport
Helping your child choose a college
Purdue University Airport in Indiana (top); Charlottesville Albemarle Airport in Virginia (bottom sidebar). Photos courtesy Purdue University Airport (top), Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (bottom sidebar).
After doing this three or four times (different kids, change of mind, change of direction) over the past years, my number one recommendation would be to draw a two-hour time circle around your home. Getting to your kid—and getting them home—in two hours or less will make at least the first year one heck of a lot easier for everyone. The airplane, of course, allows that two hours to be farther than driving. Even more advantageous for the pilot family is an airport at the campus. While not everyone’s child is U.S. Air Force Academy fit, wouldn’t it be so cool to fly into that airport? But many colleges and universities have or are near airports and the AOPA Airport Directory is your one-stop shop for finding out this information. Let’s take Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), which is an easy drive to Montana State University, or Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO), near the campus of the University of Virginia, or Purdue University Airport (LAF) on the university campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. Find a list of the airports closest to college football stadiums at aopa.org/ft/stadiums.
HOW
Airports near colleges and universities
Angwin-Parrett Field (2O3) (Pacific Union College), California
Andrews University Airpark (C20), Michigan
Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO), Alabama
Cochise College Airport (P03), Arizona
Easterwood Field (CLL) (Texas A&M University), Texas
John Bell Williams Airport (JVW) (Hinds Community College), Mississippi
Kent State University Airport (1G3), Ohio
Lewis University Airport (LOT), Illinois
Miami University Airport (OXD), Ohio
Ohio State University Airport (OSU), Ohio
Ohio University Airport (UNI), Ohio
Purdue University Airport (LAF), Indiana
Skyhaven Airport (RCM) (University of Central Missouri), Missouri
Southern Illinois Airport (MDH) (Southern Illinois University), Illinois
Texas State Technical College Waco Airport (CNW), Texas
University Airport (EDU) (University of California), California
University of Illinois-Willard Airport (CMI), Illinois
University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (OUN), Oklahoma
University Park Airport (UNV) (Pennsylvania State University), Pennsylvania
University-Oxford Airport (UOX) (University of Mississippi), Mississippi
Wood County Airport (1G0) (Bowling Green State University), Ohio
