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Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University

Logo: Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. The original uploader was Gus Polly at English Wikipedia ., 20 September 2010 (original upload date), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Private U.S. university system specializing in aviation and aerospace

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is a private university focused on aviation and aerospace programs based in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, United States. It is the largest accredited university system specializing in aviation and aerospace. It has numerous online programs and academic programs offered at satellite locations.2 It employed 893 people in 2020.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1926Founded1
  • Industryhigher education1
  • HeadquartersDaytona Beach1
  • Websiteerau.edu

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Embry-Riddle-Entrance
Photo: Aerojimmy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons5

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is a private university focused on aviation and aerospace programs based in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, United States. It is the largest accredited university system specializing in aviation and aerospace. It has numerous online programs and academic programs offered at satellite locations.2

Corporate structure

Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University sits at the top of its group. 3 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
    • Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach Subsidiary · Florida, United States
    • Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Subsidiary · Prescott, United States

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

On December 17, 1925, Talton Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle founded the Embry–Riddle Company at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, Ohio. In spring 1926, the company opened the Embry–Riddle School of Aviation. Following a merger with the Aviation Corporation (AVCO), the Embry–Riddle flying school was closed in 1930.

In 1939, Riddle, John Graham McKay and wife Isabel re-established the school in Miami. Keeping the name, they partnered with the University of Miami to provide flight training under the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and rapidly increase the number of qualified pilots immediately preceding World War II. Alumni of this school included John F. Kennedy, who served in the United States Navy in the war, and was elected as President of the United States in 1960. Following rapid expansion, the school took over the former Fritz Hotel.

Embry–Riddle became a nonprofit in 1959. In advance of the announced closure of Tamiami Airport, where the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical Institute was conducting its flight operations, the school moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, in April 1965.

Having expanded its programs of study, Embry–Riddle was awarded university status in 1968. It took the name Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University in 1970. It started its international program the same year. In 1978 it opened a second residential campus in Prescott, Arizona.

From Wikipedia’s article on Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

Daytona Beach

While rooted in aviation, research at Embry–Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus has expanded to include a diverse range of areas, including engineering, cyber and homeland security, human factors, modeling and simulation, and business. The same technologies and expertise faculty have developed and applied to aerospace and aviation related research, they now apply directly to other areas – space systems, high-performance vehicles, unmanned and autonomous systems, robotics, alternative and sustainable energy, medical human factors, commercial space operations and more.

The university is expanding its partnerships with industry in developing the Aerospace Research and Technology Park adjacent to the Daytona Beach campus. Embry–Riddle also manages the FAA NextGen Florida Test Bed, where technology is being developed that will support the nation's expanding air transportation needs. Research will contribute to reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions, improving situational awareness for pilots, and providing safer and more efficient passenger service.

In 2017, Embry–Riddle partnered with an Orlando, Florida, non-profit, FireSpring Fund, to aid five startups in their research and creation process. FireSpring awarded each startup $25,000 and Embry–Riddle offered each entrepreneurial support, seed funding, mentorship and a home base at the new university research park. The startups were: Embedded Control Designs LLC, Myers Devices LLC, Censys Technologies Corporation, Weintraus LLC, and Sensatek Propulsion Technology Inc. They researched and designed in the areas of: gas-turbine stability, drone data processing and communications, medical safety devices and spacecraft transportation.

Prescott

At the Prescott Campus, $60,000 in Eagle-Prize (E-Prize) Grants is available each year for student teams participating in collegiate, national or international design or research competitions. Teams that participate in high-stature competitions, have a diverse membership and demonstrate a great likelihood of success with sound methodology and clear business plans are most likely to receive funding.

Read the full text

Ignite Grants, part of Embry–Riddle's Quality Enhancement Plan, are available up to $48,000 annually for students wishing to participate in research and innovation under the tutelage of a faculty mentor.

From Wikipedia’s article on Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

  • Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
  • Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott

From Wikidata.1

Employees over time

  • 20208931

Timeline

  1. 1926Founded Founded1

Funding

Where the company's money came from, by calendar year: private offerings filed with the SEC, federal grants, loans, contracts and other assistance from USAspending.gov, and PPP loans from the SBA. Each bar links to the records below.

Money received by year$545.1M 2008–2026
Money received by yearMoney received by year, 2008–2026: $545.1M in all. Federal grants $187.5M; Other federal assistance $259.1M; Federal contracts $98.5M.$0$20M$40M$60M2008 · Federal grants: $4.2M2008 · Other federal assistance: $6.6M2008 · Federal contracts: $9.9M20082009 · Federal grants: $6.2M2009 · Other federal assistance: $8.8M2009 · Federal contracts: $8.6M2010 · Federal grants: $2.4M2010 · Other federal assistance: $12.1M2010 · Federal contracts: $10.5M20102011 · Federal grants: $1.7M2011 · Other federal assistance: $13.6M2011 · Federal contracts: $5.5M2012 · Federal grants: $2.5M2012 · Other federal assistance: $14.3M2012 · Federal contracts: $5.0M20122013 · Federal grants: $3.3M2013 · Other federal assistance: $16.0M2013 · Federal contracts: $1.9M2014 · Federal grants: $3.3M2014 · Other federal assistance: $17.5M2014 · Federal contracts: $3.1M20142015 · Federal grants: $2.2M2015 · Other federal assistance: $19.3M2015 · Federal contracts: $2.6M2016 · Federal grants: $3.5M2016 · Other federal assistance: $19.9M2016 · Federal contracts: $2.6M20162017 · Federal grants: $6.6M2017 · Other federal assistance: $42.4K2017 · Federal contracts: $4.1M2018 · Federal grants: $6.6M2018 · Federal contracts: $3.9M20182019 · Federal grants: $8.1M2019 · Federal contracts: $4.1M2020 · Federal grants: $14.8M2020 · Federal contracts: $5.3M20202021 · Federal grants: $55.0M2021 · Federal contracts: $2.9M2022 · Federal grants: $12.5M2022 · Other federal assistance: $12.0M2022 · Federal contracts: $6.9M20222023 · Federal grants: $13.9M2023 · Other federal assistance: $24.6M2023 · Federal contracts: $1.6M2024 · Federal grants: $16.7M2024 · Other federal assistance: $29.8M2024 · Federal contracts: $9.5M20242025 · Federal grants: $10.4M2025 · Other federal assistance: $34.1M2025 · Federal contracts: $7.2M2026 · Federal grants: $13.5M2026 · Other federal assistance: $30.3M2026 · Federal contracts: $3.4M2026
Figures by year
YearFederal grantsOther federal assistanceFederal contractsTotal
2026$13.5M$30.3M$3.4M$47.2M
2025$10.4M$34.1M$7.2M$51.7M
2024$16.7M$29.8M$9.5M$56.0M
2023$13.9M$24.6M$1.6M$40.1M
2022$12.5M$12.0M$6.9M$31.4M
2021$55.0M–$2.9M$57.9M
2020$14.8M–$5.3M$20.1M
2019$8.1M–$4.1M$12.1M
2018$6.6M–$3.9M$10.5M
2017$6.6M$42.4K$4.1M$10.7M
2016$3.5M$19.9M$2.6M$26.0M
2015$2.2M$19.3M$2.6M$24.2M
2014$3.3M$17.5M$3.1M$23.9M
2013$3.3M$16.0M$1.9M$21.2M
2012$2.5M$14.3M$5.0M$21.8M
2011$1.7M$13.6M$5.5M$20.8M
2010$2.4M$12.1M$10.5M$25.0M
2009$6.2M$8.8M$8.6M$23.7M
2008$4.2M$6.6M$9.9M$20.7M

Federal awards

Obligated amounts from USAspending.gov6, by calendar year, 2008–2026, for its registration. Obligations are what agencies committed, not always what was paid out. Contracts pay for goods and services; grants, loans and direct payments are assistance. Loans are charted at the face value of the loans listed here. An award’s amount below is its lifetime total, and some began before the years charted.

Largest grants

  1. May 4, 2020$26.6M from Department of Education: Education Stabilization Fund7 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award P425F200262
  2. Apr 24, 2020$21.4M from Department of Education: Education Stabilization Fund8 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award P425E202173
  3. Jul 27, 2016$9.5M from Federal Aviation Administration: Air Transportation Centers Of Excellence; Centers Of Excellence9 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award 15-C-UAS-ERAU
  4. Jan 4, 2021$7.0M from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: Research And Technology Development10 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award HR00112120003
  5. Feb 1, 2022$3.8M from National Science Foundation: Education And Human Resources; Stem Education (Formerly Education And Human Resources)11 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award 2146462
  6. Apr 1, 2019$3.5M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Science12 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award 80NSSC19K0773
  7. Aug 1, 2025$3.4M from National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Aeronautics13 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award 80NSSC25M7104
  8. Aug 29, 2016$2.5M from Federal Aviation Administration: Air Transportation Centers Of Excellence; Center Of Excellence; Centers Of Excellence14 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award 16-C-TTHP-ERAU

Largest direct payments

  1. $31.5M from Department of Education: Federal Pell Grant Program15 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award P063P240071
  2. $31.2M from Department of Education: Federal Pell Grant Program16 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award P063P250071
  3. $24.1M from Department of Education: Federal Pell Grant Program17 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award P063P230071

Largest contracts

  1. Oct 1, 2002$13.5M from Department of the Air Force18 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award F0561102C0041
  2. Aug 7, 2007$11.7M from Federal Aviation Administration: Cmel renewal lease - funding is provided for the period august 22, 2007 through september 30, 2007.19 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award DTFAAC07L00001
  3. Nov 29, 2022$7.7M from Department of the Navy: Base year - aviation maint.20 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award N0018923FZ088
  4. Aug 4, 2010$2.6M from Department of the Air Force: Esa tuition and fees for afrotc students21 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award 5098
  5. Sep 27, 2009$2.6M from Department of the Air Force: Esa tuition and fees for afrotc students22 To EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, INC. Award 5096

Sources

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