A mechanic inspecting a regional jet's open access panel inside a hangar at dawn with sunrise light through the bay doors

Aviation Maintenance School Rankings

Aviation Maintenance Programs: Compare Every FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance School

We rank FAA-approved (Part 147) aviation maintenance programs nationally, in every state, and in the largest cities, on published data, and list all 225. Find the best aviation maintenance schools near you, see what the job pays, and pick your route to the FAA mechanic certificate.

Most Schools
Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Edited by , Founder & Editor

Last updated

2026 Rankings

Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Programs in the U.S.

The five highest scores on our 100-point ranking of 204 FAA-approved schools: graduation rate, cost, program depth, access for working students, and size. Every state and the largest cities have their own ranking too.

  1. #1

    San Diego Miramar College

    San Diego, California

    74.6 of 100

    This program suits students who want to choose between day and night tracks and can use credit for prior learning, in a Part 147 certificated program at San Diego Miramar College.

    Type
    Community College
    Credentials
    Certificate of Achievement in Aviation Maintenance Technology Airframe; Certificate of Achievement in Aviation Maintenance Technology Powerplant; plus 2 more
    Length
    approximately 1900 hours, 5 semesters, 78 units, 2.5 years to complete
    Cost
    $46, per unit, California resident (78 units for the Certificate; non-resident $304 per unit; tools and equipment not included)
    Outcomes
    48% graduation rate 22.9 / 30
    Cost
    $2,760 from IPEDS tuition 23.7 / 25
    Program Depth
    • Both Ratings
    • Associate
    14 / 20
    Access
    • GI Bill
    • Flexible Schedule
    10 / 15
    Scale
    11 awards per year 4 / 10

  2. #2

    Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Los Angeles Campus

    Inglewood, California

    74.1 of 100

    This program fits students who want a choice between an 18-month diploma or a 22-month associate degree, both covering the Airframe and Powerplant ratings, at Spartan's main campus in Inglewood, California.

    Type
    Private Aviation School
    Credentials
    Diploma; Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)
    Length
    Diploma: 18 Months; Associate of Occupational Studies: 22 months
    Outcomes
    64% graduation rate 27.1 / 30
    Cost
    Peer median 12.5 / 25
    Program Depth
    • Both Ratings
    • Associate
    14 / 20
    Access
    • GI Bill
    • Flexible Schedule
    • Start Dates
    15 / 15
    Scale
    22 awards per year 5.5 / 10

  3. #3

    Broward College

    Pembroke Pines, Florida

    73.8 of 100

    This associate degree program fits someone in South Florida who wants airframe, powerplant, and avionics training under one aviation institute, on either a traditional or accelerated schedule.

    Type
    Community College
    Credentials
    Associate of Science (AS) in Aviation Maintenance
    Length
    Traditional track: 18-19 months (5 semesters); Express track: 13 months (3.5 semesters)
    Outcomes
    39% graduation rate 15 / 30
    Cost
    $3,116 from IPEDS tuition 22.9 / 25
    Program Depth
    • Both Ratings
    • Associate
    • Avionics
    20 / 20
    Access
    • GI Bill
    • Flexible Schedule
    • Start Dates
    15 / 15
    Scale
    2 awards per year 0.9 / 10

  4. #4

    Kansas State University Salina

    Salina, Kansas

    72.2 of 100

    This public university program fits students who want both an associate and a bachelor's degree route to eligibility for the FAA mechanic certificate, with in-state tuition near $10,243 and hands-on hangar training in Salina, Kansas.

    Type
    University
    Credentials
    Associate degree and Bachelor's degree, with FAA A&P certification eligibility
    Outcomes
    71% graduation rate 30 / 30
    Cost
    Peer median 12.5 / 25
    Program Depth
    • Both Ratings
    • Associate
    • Avionics
    20 / 20
    Access
    • GI Bill
    5 / 15
    Scale
    15 awards per year 4.7 / 10

  5. #5

    Victor Valley College

    Victorville, California

    71.1 of 100

    This fits budget-conscious California residents who want a low-cost, year-round associate degree combining airframe and powerplant training.

    Type
    Community College
    Credentials
    Associate in Science (AS) in Aviation Maintenance Technology
    Length
    18 months (per catalog)
    Cost
    $3,772, total program (8 required AVA courses, 82 units at $46/unit California resident rate)
    Outcomes
    62% graduation rate 26.2 / 30
    Cost
    $3,772 published program cost 21.7 / 25
    Program Depth
    • Both Ratings
    • Associate
    14 / 20
    Access
    • GI Bill
    5 / 15
    Scale
    12 awards per year 4.2 / 10
See All 204 Ranked Schools State-by-State Rankings City Rankings

By the Numbers

Aviation Maintenance Programs at a Glance

An aviation maintenance program trains you to inspect, repair, and return aircraft to service. The FAA certificate that follows carries an Airframe rating, a Powerplant rating, or both; holding both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings is what people mean by an A&P license. This directory starts from the FAA's own list of aviation maintenance programs and adds tuition, graduation, and pay data from federal sources.

FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Programs

225

FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026

States Plus DC With a School

48 + DC

FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026

Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay

$79,870

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Active FAA Mechanic Certificates

348,426

FAA Airmen Statistics, Dec 31, 2025

Rankings by State

Best Aviation Maintenance Schools by State

Each tile shows how many aviation maintenance programs the state has. Select a state to see its ranking: every school scored and ordered, the top picks, and what mechanics earn locally.

Puerto Rico
  • FAA-approved school

Source: FAA AV-Info Part 147 school list, retrieved September 22, 2026

FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Programs by State

AK 3 ME 1 WA 6 MT 1 ND 1 MN 4 WI 2 MI 6 NY 6 VT 1 NH 1 OR 4 ID 1 WY 0 SD 1 IA 5 IL 6 IN 4 OH 11 PA 5 NJ 1 MA 5 CA 20 NV 1 UT 3 CO 5 NE 1 MO 3 KY 4 WV 2 VA 4 MD 2 CT 2 AZ 4 NM 2 KS 2 AR 5 TN 8 NC 7 SC 3 DE 1 RI 0 OK 7 LA 4 MS 3 AL 5 GA 9 DC 1 TX 21 FL 19 HI 1 PR 1
States With the Most Aviation Maintenance Schools

FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026

26.7%

Texas, California, and Florida hold 26.7% of all aviation maintenance programs in the country. Rhode Island and Wyoming have none, so those pages list the nearest schools across the border.

Eligibility

Three FAA Routes to the Mechanic Certificate

The FAA accepts three kinds of preparation for the mechanic certificate. School is the most common, but aviation maintenance school is not the only way in. Whichever route you take, the tests at the end are the same.

Two mechanics and an instructor working around a twin-engine training aircraft with its engine cowling open inside a sunlit hangar
Hands-on hangar time on real aircraft is the core of an FAA-approved school.

  1. FAA-Approved School Route

    Enroll at an FAA-approved aviation maintenance school and earn its completion document. The FAA estimates 18 to 24 months for most schools, depending on the ratings you pursue. About two-thirds of new mechanics certify this way.

  2. Documented Experience Route

    Work in aircraft maintenance and document it with pay records or signed logs. Part 65 requires at least 18 months for one rating, or 30 months performed concurrently for both Airframe and Powerplant. About 20% of new mechanics certify this way.

  3. Military Experience Route

    Service members apply with time worked in an aviation maintenance specialty, backed by a DD Form 214, evaluation records, and a letter from an Executive or Classification Officer. Time spent in training does not count. About 14% of new mechanics certify this way.

  4. Pass the Same FAA Tests

    Every route ends at the same tests: General, Airframe, and Powerplant knowledge tests for the ratings you seek, each passed at 70% or higher, then an oral and practical test with a Designated Mechanic Examiner.

Route shares: ATEC 2025 Pipeline Report. Minimums: 14 CFR Part 65 and FAA.gov.

Pay

Aircraft Mechanic Salary Snapshot

BLS counted 138,090 aircraft mechanics and service technicians in May 2025, with a median of $79,870 a year. Avionics technicians had a median of $82,280. Projections Central expects mechanic jobs to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 11,300 openings a year.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, United States $79,870median/yr ($38.40/hr)
$48,780 $128,890
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025

See the full aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by state, metro, and industry.

Highest State Median Pay for Aircraft Mechanics
New Jersey $105,370
New York $102,800
Maryland $100,500
Washington $98,980
Connecticut $96,830
Nevada $94,890
Massachusetts $93,040
Alaska $91,150

BLS OEWS, May 2025

City Rankings

Best Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Major Cities

The ten largest metro areas, with the FAA-approved schools within 100 miles of each city center and local BLS pay for aircraft mechanics. Distances are straight-line miles. Select a metro for its ranking, its airports, and local employers.

  • New York City

    NY

    8 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    Aviation High School, 6 mi
    Median Pay
    $127,140
    Employed
    5,110

  • Los Angeles

    CA

    10 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    West Los Angeles College, 2 mi
    Median Pay
    $83,250
    Employed
    5,020

  • Chicago

    IL

    5 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago, 1 mi
    Median Pay
    $100,610
    Employed
    2,090

  • Dallas-Fort Worth

    TX

    8 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    Skyline Career Development Center, 5 mi
    Median Pay
    $94,920
    Employed
    8,000

  • Houston

    TX

    3 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    Aviation Institute of Maintenance Houston, 11 mi
    Median Pay
    $85,400
    Employed
    2,710

  • Miami-Fort Lauderdale

    FL

    4 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, 4 mi
    Median Pay
    $78,260
    Employed
    6,460

  • Washington, DC

    5 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    University of the District of Columbia Community College, under 1 mi
    Median Pay
    $93,910
    Employed
    1,440

  • Atlanta

    GA

    6 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    Atlanta Technical College, 4 mi
    Median Pay
    $98,300
    Employed
    2,770

  • Philadelphia

    PA

    6 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    Aviation Institute of Maintenance Philadelphia, 8 mi
    Median Pay
    $84,100
    Employed
    1,280

  • Phoenix

    AZ

    3 schools within 100 mi

    Nearest
    Western Maricopa Education Center, 12 mi
    Median Pay
    $76,610
    Employed
    3,810

Schools: FAA AV-Info. Pay and employment: BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro area estimates.

School Networks

Multi-Campus Aviation Maintenance School Networks

8 school networks run 36 of the 225 aviation maintenance programs on the FAA list. Each campus holds its own FAA certificate, so each has its own profile with its address and program details.

Aviation Institute of Maintenance

14 campuses in 12 states

Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

4 campuses in 3 states

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

4 campuses in 4 states

Tennessee College of Applied Technology

4 campuses in 1 state

Universal Technical Institute

3 campuses in 3 states

Texas State Technical College

3 campuses in 1 state

National Aviation Academy

2 campuses in 2 states

US Aviation Academy

2 campuses in 2 states

Guides

Aircraft Mechanic Pay and Career Guides

More Guides

Salaries

Careers

Certification

Guides

Rankings

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Are There?
The FAA lists 225 approved aviation maintenance programs in its AV-Info facility data, retrieved September 22, 2026. They sit in 48 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Rhode Island and Wyoming have none. Browse every school.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Aircraft Mechanic?
The FAA estimates 18 to 24 months of aviation maintenance school at most FAA-approved programs, depending on the ratings pursued. Without school, Part 65 requires at least 18 months of documented experience for one rating, or 30 months performed concurrently for both Airframe and Powerplant.

How Much Does an Aircraft Mechanic Make?
The median annual wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians was $79,870 ($38.40 an hour) in May 2025, according to BLS. The middle 80% earned between $48,780 and $128,890. See the aircraft mechanic salary guide for state and metro pay.

Can You Make $100,000 as an Aircraft Mechanic?
Yes. BLS puts the 75th percentile at $99,130 and the 90th percentile at $128,890 for May 2025, so about one in four aircraft mechanics earned $99,130 or more and one in ten earned $128,890 or more. New Jersey had the highest state median, $105,370.

Do You Need a Degree to Become an Aircraft Mechanic?
No. The FAA sets no general education requirement for the mechanic certificate. Most aviation maintenance programs do require a high school diploma or GED to enroll, and some employers ask for one too.

Does the FAA Charge a Fee for the Mechanic Certificate?
No. The FAA does not charge a fee to issue the Aviation Mechanic certificate. Training, testing center, and examiner costs are separate and set by the school, testing center, or examiner.

Sources

All sources retrieved .

Read our methodology for how the school list, distances, and pay figures are built, and about the editor for our standards.

Start Here

Find the Best Aviation Maintenance School Near You

See the top-ranked aviation maintenance programs in your state and city, among all 225 FAA-certificated schools.

See State Rankings