College of DuPage Wins $4M for Drone Training

The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, has been awarded $4 million in federal funding to expand its aviation and drone education programs, a move aimed squarely at fixing growing workforce shortages across the U.S. aviation sector, as Aviation Web reports.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Special Projects program, which supports workforce development in areas considered national priorities.

College of DuPage launched its aviation program in fall 2023 and already enrolls more than 140 students, a strong early signal that demand for aviation and unmanned aircraft education is not slowing down.

The school currently offers an associate degree in aviation management and is developing a dedicated associate degree focused on unmanned aerial vehicles, more commonly known as drones.

According to COD President Muddassir Siddiqi, the grant is designed to address workforce shortages in aviation operations, dispatch, airport management, and unmanned aerial systems technical roles, areas that continue to struggle with hiring as commercial aviation and drone use expand nationwide.

Expanding drone and aviation education pathways

Over the next four years, College of DuPage plans to use the grant to significantly broaden its aviation and drone offerings.

This includes adding short term credential pathways that allow students to enter the workforce faster, upgrading lab spaces with enhanced simulation technology, and hiring additional technical staff with real world industry experience.

The focus on unmanned aircraft systems is especially notable. As drones become more common in public safety, infrastructure inspection, surveying, agriculture, and logistics, demand for trained UAS technicians and operators continues to rise.

Community colleges like COD are increasingly positioned as fast moving pipelines for this kind of specialized talent.

College officials also said part of the funding will support outreach to new student populations, helping attract people who may not have previously considered careers in aviation or drone technology.

A community college built for workforce training

The College of DuPage is one of the largest public community colleges in Illinois, serving District 502 through its main campus in Glen Ellyn and satellite locations in Addison, Carol Stream, Naperville, and Westmont.

It operates as an open admission institution, offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways in fields ranging from STEM and business to health sciences and the arts.

COD has long emphasized career and technical education, making the expansion into aviation and drones a natural fit. By the end of the grant period, college officials believe the program could significantly increase the number of aviation and drone professionals entering the workforce, helping relieve pressure on an industry that is already stretched thin.

DroneXL’s Take

This is exactly the kind of funding that moves the drone industry forward in practical ways. Instead of chasing hype, College of DuPage is building real training pipelines with simulators, credentials, and instructors who understand how drones are actually used in the field.

As DJI drones and similar platforms continue to dominate world commercial operations, schools like COD will play a quiet but critical role in making sure there are enough skilled pilots, technicians, and managers to keep those aircraft flying safely and profitably.

Photo credit: CDP