According to the media outlet, some institutions have reported year-over-year enrollment growth of over 1,000 percent. The unmanned aviation program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, one of the country's largest aviation schools, grew from 11 to more than 200 students in just three years.
"The benefits this industry will provide, I think, are just going to be exponential," a drone piloting student at the University of North Dakota told NBC.
According to Wall Street Journal, some drone programs offered at US universities would be short without a certificate of higher education. Programs of this type would cost $24,500. Full-time programs would last four years, with a $175,000 tuition fee.
More than a million drones have been sold in the past few years, becoming one of the most popular gifts in holiday seasons.
The potential use of drones is growing in many spheres. The FAA has allowed a number of film production companies to use unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the Washington Post. In August, Google announced it was developing a delivery system using drones.
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft either controlled by pilots from the ground or functioning autonomously following pre-programmed routes.
There have been a number of near-collisions of unmanned aerial vehicles with aircraft. According to an FAA document cited by the Washington Post, four people have been killed in recent years after a drone crashed into them.