Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Prescott, AZ, USA

Reviews

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

Anna from Fountain Hills, AZ

a current student here
36 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott has a huge advantage when it comes to classroom learning. The university is fairly small, an estimated 1500 students total which provides a small faculty-student ratio. Many of my fellow peers who attend other universities dislike being known as a number in their huge auditorium classes and feel they don't learn as well because they cannot freely ask questions. At Embry-Riddle, not only do the professors know your name, but also assist in campus events and dine in the cafeteria amongst other students. Classrooms are course specific, so a math class will not take place in a physics or materials classroom. Professors also have a wide range of their own credible experience in the field, so students are given life experiences in addition to the course outline.
Am enjoying being here
At Embry-Riddle, I feel like I'm a part of a great family, not a school. Since the campus is small, faces become very familiar quickly, and everyone is very friendly. There are few disturbances in regards to alcohol on campus since Embry-Riddle is a dry campus and the majority of students are very focused on their studies. The students are serious about their education and realize the potential they earn by attending this highly accredited university.
Bang for the buck
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is not the cheapest university, but the education received is worth the tuition. The professors are experienced, the campus is small, and the quality of information given is top notch. One in every four pilots are said to be an Embry-Riddle graduate. The education here is not standard by any means. It is all hands on, detailed information and students must be willing to work hard to succeed.
Tips for prospective students
This university is not for students who are unsure of what their future intentions are. Embry-Riddle gives you the education needed to begin a successful career in the aeronautical industry and that training begins as soon as you begin your studies freshman year. This university is highly regarded in the aviation industry and is challenging but highly rewarding. The faculty and students are very welcoming and will strive to help in any way possible to ensure your success.
Great for these types of students
Students who are looking to begin a career in aeronautics, whether it be engineering, space physics, flight, meteorology, safety science, or security studies. Students whose strengths are in sciences and critical thinking.

Nicholas from San Diego, CA

a current student here
15 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Embry Riddle is a great source of information for someone is aspiring to be an Aerospace Engineer. The class sizes are a little large sometimes for the major classes such as physics and the introduction to engineering. To make up for it, the teachers have open office hours where they will gladly lend a hand on anything that needs to be reexplained.

I'm also part of the Army ROTC and they offer a lot of benefits to students. not only will they assist in your physical fitness, they offer mentorship for the cadets because they care for your grades as much as any employer would.
Am enjoying being here
There is a lot to do in Embry-Riddle, let alone Prescott, AZ. in Embry riddle there are a variety of clubs, games, fields and activities. I personally am part of the sword fighting club, particle acceleration club, and martial arts/boxing club and i love to hang out in the student union. There are pool tables, ping pong tables, air hockey tables, Foosball tables, and even xbox 360s and wiis.

In Prescott there are movie theatres, lakes, shopping centers, and excellent trails for hikes, mountain biking, and even boulder hopping. There is never a reason to be bored while attending Embry Riddle.
Bang for the buck
This school undeniably leaves a hole in the wallet with the cost of 42k a year, 21k per semester, but is definitely worth the bang. The atmosphere of the school, classes, and friendly people make it worth the while. The fact that many advanced programs such as Matlab, Linux, wind tunnels, and labs are available to students of all grades from freshman to sophomores.
Tips for prospective students
A great tip for reducing the cost is take some of the General Education classes in a community college if the belt is a little tight on the budget. This will help reduce the impact of the school and bring a little recognition from your peers because you will be slightly ahead of those around you.
Great for these types of students
Embry Riddle is a great place for any student with a positive attitude and can handle a somewhat heavy load (at least in the Aerospace Engineering and Space Physics Fields). To be able to form a study group and socialize would be a skill that any student needs here because many projects are difficult and impossible to complete on your own. In short, a positive intellect who enjoys the rest of the populace on campus.

Nate from Southern California

a past student here
10 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Did learn a lot
As with any school, there are good professors and bad professors. Riddle is no exception, and you may unfortunately have a class or two with a professor you do not necessarily like. My experience, however, was very positive, and in general, most of the professors are excellent here. In addition, classes are taught almost exclusively by the professors themselves, rather than by TA's, which you might expect at bigger schools.

As one might expect of an engineering program, you can count on many late nights in the library studying and writing reports, as well as a few all-nighters every now and again.
Did enjoy being here
Without question though, the years I spent here were the best and most memorable in my life. Prescott is a stunningly beautiful place, as is the rest of Arizona for that matter. The school is quite unique compared to other university campuses around the country both in geographic setting, student demographics, and student/faculty ratio.

The campus also feels very cohesive, and the quality of the student body and faculty are quite high. The high cost of admission also works in its own way to weed out the riff-raff, leaving the campus with generally more motivated students. Yes, there are some spoiled rich kids here, but this will be the case anywhere you go.
Bang for the buck
As an AE student, I felt the value was excellent. The engineering student body is very tightly knit, and the friends you meet here will be your friends forever. The classes are generally well-structured and enjoyable. Overall, my experience was great!
Tips for prospective students
- Do not overload yourself with credits. You will end up regretting it later.

- Hang out with your fellow peers and learn to do stuff together with them. It will make your time here far more enjoyable and memorable.
Great for these types of students
- You love aerospace
- You love the outdoors
- You are a warm weather person
- You prefer smaller towns/universities

Laura from Cave Creek, AZ

a current student here
9 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University does not sell you short on education by any means! This school is very focused and so getting to work learning a topic is a must. Although some days can be stressful from the overload of knowledge, there are some superb teachers working day, and sometimes nights as well, to make sure that what you are learning is really sinking in. It is not uncommon at this school to stay an additional 1 or 2 more years after the initial 4 years just because of the amount of information is so great. But it is worth the patience.
Am enjoying being here
Although school is stressful with the constant work, the location is very nice - a small enough town to concentrate on school but still have plenty to do in the surrounding areas from indoors to outdoors. My three years here so far have gone very quickly!
Bang for the buck
As said before, this school does not sell one short on education! The school is a bit on the pricey side but I would not go any where else. The atmosphere of aviation meets engineering, location where seasons occur, teachers who are dedicated non-stop, and the indispensable education make this college an extreme bang for the buck.
Tips for prospective students
For prospective students, getting a head start before coming to this school is very important. As an engineering student, I would focus on physics and calculus. Those are the basics of anything you will do in the engineering world and just having a head start on those subjects can greatly ease the journey ahead. A second tip is know that you enjoy aeronautics in one way, shape, or form. Even if you do not pursue an aeronautics degree, the surrounding students, teachers, and even buildings have an emphasis on flying.
Great for these types of students
This school really reaches out to prospecting engineers, pilots, global security intelligence majors, and some aspects of business. It's a great school for analytical thinkers, minds of security and dedicated fliers alike who want to create for, fly into, or protect their futures.

Sheldon from Mission Viejo, CA

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am an Aeronautical Science major at the school. Since it is my freshman year I have not gotten into the meat and potatoes of the subject, but from what I have learned so far exceeded all of my expectations. All of my classes from English Composition to Private Helicopter Operations are excellent. The professors have really taught me a lot and opened my eyes to a new world.
Am enjoying being here
Embry-Riddle's Prescott campus is pristine. The classrooms are very nice and some of the Aeronautic buildings are incredibly impressive. If you are going to major in Engineering here you are going to have a fun time in your classrooms.

If you love the outdoors this is the campus to go to. There is great hiking and mountain biking here. Also, with a lake a minute away, water sports in the fall/spring are incredibly fun. In the winter you can travel just an hour to go snowboarding/skiing.
Bang for the buck
Since this school is Aviation based it can be quite pricey. If you are planning on flying you can almost double your tuition. However, they do have great scholarships and financial aid if you need help. The money that you spend will not be wasted at this school.
Tips for prospective students
If you want to come to this school make sure you are prepared to study and you are not expecting to party every day.
Great for these types of students
If you love aviation or are interested in engineering this is going to be the school for you.

Sarah from Chino Valley, AZ

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The classes can be tough, but are very rewarding. The material covered teaches students a lot about their chosen course of study. Every day you learn something new and interesting.
Am enjoying being here
There is a lot to do on campus and the town of Prescott offers a lot of activities as well. The staff and student body are friendly and very helpful. The teachers are approachable, most have an open door policy, where the students can walk in at any time that the teacher is holding office hours and get help on homework or anything else that they have questions about.
Bang for the buck
The college is expensive due to the fact that it is a private college, but students get a great education for their money. As the top aeronautical college prospective employers know that the students that attend Embry Riddle know their stuff.
Tips for prospective students
1)Stay on top of your school work. Falling behind means you will have to play catch up near the end of the semester when you need to be focusing on finals.
2)The college has many guest speakers come to talk on various topic throughout the year. Attending these lectures can offer an insight into the field you have chosen.
3)Don't forget to have fun. Work hard but take breaks. It is really easy to lose your focus and goals under the work load here. If you take a break every now and then to have fun it will be easier to keep your eye on the what comes after you graduate.
Great for these types of students
Engineeing degrees, aviation degrees, pilots, intelligence studies degrees

Tyler from Ladera Ranch, CA

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
great school, great community, great professors. the size of the school makes it a much more intimate and involved experience. when i make it to other schools i feel like no one gets an education or experience quite like we do here at embry riddle.
Tips for prospective students
look into the programs and the people, and give this place more than a once over. when students first arrive they usually love the school, but not prescott itself. i had the same reaction. coming from socal it almost seemed like i might go crazy in a small town like this... but at this point i've pretty much deemed prescott my home. i love it here. most people have the same story as i do, when i got here i was worried, and now that i'm almost done i don't ever want to leave. pretty much what i'm saying is, if you are interested in the school, give it a chance because i guarantee you'll find what you're looking for. on top of that the one thing i can say is once you're here, get involved, in anyway you can, early and as often as possible. clubs, sports, groups and organizations are a very important part of social and academic life that i discovered much later than i should have, don't make the same mistake i did. get involved.
Academic Rigor
it depends on the major, and your specific strengths. in any case, your first year or two you're going to be doing a lot more work than you would normally be used to. if you're an aeronautical science major, you're going to be doing a large amount of reading and memorizing. gsis, you're going to be writing a lot. and if you choose the glorious path of an engineer, plan on doing your homework more than a few times over. any path you go, you're going to have some late nights, but that is to be expected in college. i myself am an aeronautics major, with a minor in air traffic control. and while i had to study my face off the first two years here, the upper level classes are entirely worth all the effort. you get your moneys worth here.
Dorm Life
high quality dorms. i must say these are some of the nicest dorms i have ever come across with all the schools i have been to. probably the most appealing part of the dorms here the bathrooms. one of the horrors that i heard about coming out of high school was sharing these public bathrooms with a huge amount people and a huge loss of privacy, but let me tell you, that doesn't happen here. depending on which residence hall you choose to live in, the most you'll ever be sharing a bathroom with is three people, in a private home-like area.
Food and Dining
get a meal plan. i am a senior and i still have one even though i live off campus. the food here is great. they do a wonderful job keeping their food fresh with new choices in the buffet style dining hall on campus. and if you get tired of that, there are other places on campus you can use your meal plan to get custom orders, drinks, coffee, snacks, etc. everything on campus is available through all forms of payment (credit, debit, cash), but a meal plan makes everything much simpler.
What to do for fun
anything you can think of anywhere else, you can find here. you just have to look for it. there are many cool and unique restaurants you will never find anywhere else, along with popular classics. if you like the outdoors, there are great trails for biking, running, hiking. you can go rock climbing, or simply scale thumb butte (local mountain). and if you're missing the city, the phoenix area is only a little over an hour away, where you can find all sorts of shopping and entertainment. flagstaff, sedona, and jerome (home of the haunted hamburger) are all within a 2 hour driving distance, making great day trips, or even eventful weekends. the local social life in prescott revolves around 3 things, the college crowd, whisky row (local strip of bars, and the town centers. there are also a few great golf courses with crazy low rates. believe me, there is plenty of things to do here.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
there is a rock in the middle of campus. big rock. that everyone takes over and paints. want to promote your club or something else? grab some spray paint, show up in the middle of the night and gloss this puppy down.
Clubs and Activities
like i said before, get involved. the student activities on campus are plentiful and generally awesome.
Greek Life
i'm not involved in greek life so i can't give a justified evaluation.

Kathryn

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
All of the teachers that I have had know what they are talking about. Almost every teacher has worked in their field of study at some time or another before coming to work at Riddle. There have not been any classes where I have sat there going How is this going to be useful? Everything is related to your field of study... it is awesome!
Am enjoying being here
When you are at Embry-Riddle you are apart of something. I live on campus, and have for the past two years, it is a lot of fun. The school does its best to make being there fun. We have a great student union and the Board of Campus Activities often has events for the students to go to such as a Movie on the Lawn or some comedian come and we get to go for free. It is a lot of fun.
Bang for the buck
I am not going to lie, Embry-Riddle is a very expensive school. However, it is considered the Harvard of the Sky. There are some employers that, if they see Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on an application it is an automatic interview... or at least you get put into the pile of only four applications instead of the pile of 100 applications. The community of Embry-Riddle is so tightly woven that if there is an Riddle graduate already working at a company you would like to work for it is relatively easy to be introduced and have a contact. That is one of the amazing things that you get when you are an Embry-Riddle student.
Tips for prospective students
Come with an open mind. The professors and fellow students are amazing. The school community and campus are wonderful. It is a great school
Great for these types of students
Students that work hard and want to learn do really well at Embry-Riddle.

Amanda from Boonsboro, MD

researching this school
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
Walking into the labs I immediately felt at home, they have all the technology a budding engineer could ask for- and then some. Five wind tunnels available to the students (one of them supersonic) 3-d printers, CAD software and machine shops and much, much more. I felt the immediate urge to get in there and get my hands dirty.
Will enjoy being here
I met a few of the teachers and students during my visit and they were all very kind and obliging. they even went out of their way to show me around and just talked about life on the campus. As for the location...Prescott, AZ is about one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, large enough to have all the comforts of home but quite enough to feel like a small town. Its only a few hours away from the grand canyon and Phoenix and it is far enough north to be cool enough for snow. There is also an airport located a few miles down the road.
Bang for the buck
Being a lonely high school student without any trust-fund to speak of, when I saw the cost of tuition I suffered a bit of sticker shock; however, in spite of the large cost, I feel that this school will be more than worth it. They have plenty of opportunities for students to be paid for extracurricular projects and the school actually helps you get summer internships back home (they even give you mock interviews).
Tips for prospective students
Definitely visit the campus before you make your decision. I was leaning toward the Florida campus until visiting Arizona. Don't let the heat scare you off, I'm from Maryland (where the humidity is often above eighty percent) and when I stepped out of the plane I was stunned by how comfortable i felt in the dry air.
Great for these types of students
If you are as attracted to the culture of engineering (aka the nerdom) as you are the science of it this is definitely the place for you. The students are serious about their work without being automatons and the school is filled with all sorts of clubs and activities (I plan on starting a fencing club when i get there). Ask your tour guide about the taco in the wind tunnel, I dare you. You wont regret it.

Lebron from San Francisco, CA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Academic Rigor
Hard academic program but amazing results.