Destination 225° University Pathway

The Destination 225° University pathway is designed for collegiate aviators who attend a Southwest® partner university or complete a Southwest Airlines® Campus Reach Internship.

Our vision is to ease the barriers to becoming a pilot, and guide those who are selected to the University pathway in their next steps: gaining relevant flight experience with a Southwest Airlines partner, in order to put themselves in position to join the ranks as a Southwest Airlines Pilot. Destination 225° is designed to be highly accessible, cost-effective, and innovative.

Southwest partners with the four universities below to offer this transition training.

What it's like to be a Southwest Pilot

The Program

Selected participants will be eligible to instruct on their college campus for the year following graduation.

Upon completing the flight instruction time post-graduation, participants will be eligible to be hired at one of Southwest’s partner carriers and will receive a new hire class date.

Participants will receive ongoing mentorship from a Southwest Airlines Pilot throughout their time with a partner carrier.

Participants will fly for our partner carrier for at least three years, building hours and preparing for the opportunity of a career with Southwest Airlines.

University partners

Individuals from the following universities who are interested in the Destination 225° University pathway will need to apply and complete a comprehensive selection process, including interviews and assessments by Southwest and its partners—read on for more details!

Learn more

Thinking of joining?

Take a look, take control, and take off! To participate in the University pathway, you must:

Be able to obtain an FAA First-Class Medical Certificate
Have successfully completed your Private Pilot’s License check ride
Be enrolled in a degree program under the school of aviation/aeronautics at a partner university OR be a current or former Southwest Airlines Campus Reach Intern

Maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher
Have a current and complete log book
Have or be able to obtain a valid passport with the ability to travel in and out of the United States
Have a high school diploma or equivalency
Possess a valid driver’s license
Be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without the need for company sponsorship of an employment-based visa now or in the future
Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
Demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English
Be able to pass the prescreening requirements needed for employment at Southwest Airlines (e.g. drug testing and background check)
Be able to relocate for the duration of the program and future job opportunities
Demonstrate the ability to pay out-of-pocket or secure financing for costs incurred during time in the University pathway

Application & selection process

If selected to proceed through the process you may be required to complete additional steps. These include, but are not limited to: an aptitude assessment, phone interviews, and face-to-face interviews.

Interested in the University pathway and meet the criteria to participate?

I'm interested!

Program partners

We are proud of our partnerships with the following organizations who will employ Destination 225° participants and empower them to build the quality experience required before applying for selection to join the Southwest Team.

Learn more

Destination 225° FAQs

Click here