Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach stands as a beacon for aspiring aviators, engineers, and aerospace professionals. As a private university with a robust $0.4 billion endowment, it has carved out a unique niche as a global leader in aviation and aerospace education. Students here aren't just learning; they're immersed in a dynamic environment dedicated to exploring the skies and beyond, guided by a legacy that spans nearly a century.

The university's rich history began in 1925 when Talton Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle founded their company, quickly opening an aviation school in Cincinnati. After a brief closure, Riddle, alongside John Graham McKay and Isabel, re-established the school in Miami in 1939. This crucial re-establishment saw them partner with the University of Miami, playing a vital role in training pilots under the Civilian Pilot Training Program just before World War II. Notably, this era saw future President John F. Kennedy receive flight training, a testament to the school's early impact.

Embry-Riddle's journey continued, becoming a nonprofit in 1959 and eventually relocating its flight operations to Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1965. This move marked a pivotal expansion of its academic offerings, leading to its recognition as a full university in 1968 and adopting its current distinguished name, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in 1970. Today, under the leadership of President P. Barry Butler, the Daytona Beach campus, along with its second residential campus established in Prescott, Arizona, in 1978, continues to shape the future of flight, offering unparalleled opportunities for students eager to launch careers in the aerospace industry.