Unmanned Vehicle University

What Unmanned Vehicle University does

Unmanned Vehicle University (UVU) is a for-profit, privately-held educational institution headquartered in Goodyear, Arizona, that delivers training and degree programs in unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Founded in 2012, UVU positions itself as the first university licensed to grant master's and doctoral degrees in Unmanned Systems Engineering and offers a portfolio spanning a $3,500 four-phase UAV Pilot Training Certificate (web ground school via Canvas LMS, PC-based simulator, two-day hands-on flight, FAA Part 107 prep), a standalone $250 Part 107 prep course, a $1,999 advanced aerial cinematography course built around the proprietary Skip Fredricks simulator, enterprise team training, a 2-day UAS Multispectral Operations course, a 36-credit MS and 60-credit Doctorate in Unmanned Systems Engineering, and a 16-credit Professional Certificate in UAS Project Management. Hands-on Phase 3 instruction is delivered 1-on-1 across 9-11 regional flight training centers spanning the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain West, Southwest, and Florida.

Name

Unmanned Vehicle University

Legal name

Unmanned Vehicle University

Website

https://uxvuniversity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unmanned Vehicle University is a Goodyear, Arizona-based for-profit institution that delivers FAA Part 107 prep, hands-on drone pilot training, enterprise UAS courses, and online MS/Doctorate degrees in Unmanned Systems Engineering to individual entrepreneurs, enterprise teams, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drone Pilot Training and UAS Education

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC), Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC)

Keywords

• Drone pilot training
• Unmanned systems education
• FAA Part 107 prep
• Aerial cinematography training
• UAS enterprise training

Headquarters

HQ city

Goodyear

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. UAV Pilot Training Certificate: Full program fee of $3,500 covering 4 phases: web-based ground school (16 hours), PC-based drone simulator (10 hours), 2 days hands-on flight training, and FAA Part 107 prep. Payment plans available: 2-part payment ($2,000 + $1,750) or monthly subscription ($1,000/month for 4 months).
2. FAA Part 107 Prep Course: Standalone exam prep course at $250, taught by Certified Flight Instructor Fred Bivetto. Includes 6 modules, quizzes, cumulative exam, and IACRA application guidance.
3. Aerial Cinematography Training: Advanced cinematography course at $1,999 including Skip Fredricks Aerial Cinematography Flight Simulator and 2 days of onsite flight training in Southern California.
4. Enterprise UAS Training: Multi-day operational UAS training for teams of 3+, customized to team equipment and workflows. Quote-based pricing with discounts for larger groups.
5. Professional Certificate Programs: 16-credit professional certificate in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Management. 4 courses taken over 12-week quarters, all online. Tuition per catalog.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Unmanned Vehicle University is an online higher education institution that delivers professional pilot training, certification, and degree programs in unmanned systems and drone engineering. Its core offering is the multi-phase UAV Pilot Training Certificate (web ground school, PC-based simulator, hands-on flight training, and FAA Part 107 prep), supplemented by standalone FAA test prep, enterprise UAS team training, aerial cinematography training, UAS multispectral operations training, a Professional Certificate in UAS Project Management, and graduate degrees (MS and Doctorate) in Unmanned Systems Engineering delivered online.

Product overview

Unmanned Vehicle University offers a portfolio of educational programs and professional training courses for the unmanned systems/drone industry. The core offerings include the UAV Pilot Training Certificate program (a 4-phase program covering ground school, simulator training, hands-on flight training, and FAA Part 107 prep), standalone FAA Part 107 Prep Course, Enterprise UAS Training for teams, Aerial Cinematography Training, and UAS Multispectral Operations training. At the graduate level, UVU offers a Master of Science in Unmanned Systems Engineering (36 credits) and a Doctorate of Science in Unmanned Systems Engineering (60 credits). Additionally, a Professional Certificate in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Management (16 credits) provides entry-level professional credentials. All programs are delivered online except for the hands-on flight training components, which are conducted at UVU flight training centers across the US. UVU positions itself as the world's first institution licensed to grant doctorate and master's degrees in Unmanned Systems Engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UAV Pilot Training Certificate A comprehensive drone pilot certification program with four phases (16-hour web-based ground school, 10-hour PC-based drone simulator, 2 days of hands-on flight training, and FAA Part 107 test preparation), priced at $3,500. Designed for individuals seeking to become professional commercial drone service providers across industries such as agriculture, cinematography, film, construction, real estate, surveying and mapping.
• FAA Part 107 Prep Course A standalone certification exam preparation course modeled after the FAA Part 107 test, administered by a Certified Flight Instructor. Includes 6 training modules with quizzes (Introduction, Regulations, Airspace, Weather, Loading and Performance, and Operations), a cumulative exam, IACRA application guidance, and CFI instruction. Priced at $250.
• Enterprise UAS Training A multi-day operational UAS training course designed for teams of 3 or more pilots. Tailored to fit specific workflows and applications with customized hands-on flight training and classroom academics. Requires FAA RPIC (Part 107) certificate as a prerequisite. Quote-based pricing with discounts for larger groups.
• Aerial Cinematography Training Advanced aerial cinematography training for FAA-certified drone operators, taught by Emmy-nominated aerial cinematographer Skip Fredricks. Includes the Skip Fredricks Aerial Cinematography Flight Simulator and 2 days of onsite flight training in Southern California. Covers flight techniques and use cases for real estate, weddings, live events, music videos, commercials, TV shows, and films. Priced at $1,999.
• UAS Multispectral Operations A 2-day training course designed for individuals or teams looking to understand how to implement multi-spectral imaging sensors in their commercial UAS operations.
• Master of Science in Unmanned Systems Engineering A 36-credit hour graduate degree program delivered fully online, comprising courses such as UAS Fundamentals, Introduction to Systems Engineering, UAS Conceptual Design, Numerical Analysis, UAS Flight Test & Evaluation, UAS Remote Sensing, UAV Aerodynamics & Flight Stability, Autonomous Unmanned Systems, and dissertation research. UVU is the world's first university licensed to grant this master's degree.
• Doctorate of Science in Unmanned Systems Engineering A 60-credit hour doctoral degree program in Unmanned Systems Engineering, including advanced coursework and dissertation research. UVU is the world's first school licensed to grant doctorate degrees in this field.
• Professional Certificate in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Management A 16-credit professional certificate program consisting of 4 courses (UAS Fundamentals, Introduction to Systems Engineering, plus 2 focus area courses), taken over 12-week quarters entirely online. Covers UAV project management, cost estimation, market analysis, design, testing, integration, and preparation for CAPM certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% customer satisfaction rating for Chief Pilot Gene Payson
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SkySkopesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkySkopes, a UAS services company, sends student pilots through UVU's training program. Matt Dunlevy of SkySkopes praised UVU's Chief Trainer Gene Payson and stated they would continue sending more students through the UVU program. SkySkopes takes pride in their numerous UAV pilot certifications and considers UVU's certification one of their most cherished.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Drone U: Drone pilot training and business coaching company targeting commercial drone operators; competes with UVU for the same entrepreneur-focused drone pilot training wallet.
• Pilot Institute: Online drone and aviation training provider offering FAA Part 107 prep and commercial drone courses; directly competes with UVU's Part 107 prep and UAV Pilot Training programs at a similar price point and consumer/SMB target audience.
• Drone Launch Academy: Online drone training school focused on Part 107 prep and drone business courses; competes head-to-head with UVU's entry-level pilot training products for the same aspiring commercial drone operator segment.
• UAV Coach (Drone Pilot Academy): Online drone training community and Part 107 prep provider serving aspiring drone entrepreneurs; overlaps directly with UVU's primary customer persona of individuals starting drone service businesses.
• DartU: Drone flight training academy offering Part 107 prep and hands-on drone courses; directly comparable to UVU's blended online + in-person training model and target customer base.

Broad incumbents

• ATP Flight School: Largest flight training organization in the US offering pilot certifications; broad incumbent in the pilot training category, with comparable flight training operational model but focused on manned aviation rather than UAS specialty.
• University of North Dakota (UND Aerospace): Major aerospace university with one of the longest-running UAS programs in the US, including bachelor's and master's degrees in unmanned aircraft systems operations; competes for the same UAS degree-seeking students as UVU.
• Kansas State University Polytechnic: Public university offering a UAS degree program with hands-on flight training; comparable academic offering and target student profile to UVU's degree programs but with a broader university portfolio.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Established aviation-focused university with UAS-related degree concentrations and flight programs; broad incumbent competitor for UVU's master's-level UAS engineering students and offers overlapping but more generalized credentials.
• Vaughn College: Aviation and engineering college offering UAS concentrations and degree programs; comparable academic positioning to UVU with a broader engineering portfolio serving a similar aviation-focused student demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unmanneduniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UnmannedUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnmannedVehicleUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/Unmanned-Vehicle-University-4422379?trk=hb_side_g&gid=4422379

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unmanned Vehicle University