Several Universities Have Already Established Programs

It won't be long before the ability to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle will become an in-demand skill for college graduates ... and several colleges and universities are not waiting for the FAA to make up its mind about how it is going to proceed.

Analysts see unstoppable growth in business opportunities for UAVs, according to a report appearing in The Washington Post, ranging from delivery of packages, pizza and beer to journalism and real estate. A report last year from AUVSI predicts that UAVs could be directly or indirectly accountable for as many as 100,000 new jobs by 2025.

With the FAA-approved test sites coming online, some colleges and universities are already offering UAV degree programs in an effort to prepare students for those jobs. Such notables in the industry as ERAU, University of North Dakota, and Kansas State have degree programs directly tied to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operation and management.

The Post says in its analysis that such jobs could reach into the six-figure range, and predicts that there could be a significant "talent gap" between the number of jobs and the number of qualified applicants in the not-too-distant future.

FMI: ERAU, UND, K-State