Aviation Maintenance School Cost: What 41 FAA-Approved Schools Charge

Aviation Maintenance School Cost at 41 Schools That Publish a Total Price

Of the 225 schools on the FAA's approved list, these 41 post a price for the whole program. Each figure below is copied from the school's own page, with the period and what it covers. The sources don't all include the same things, so compare the "covers" column, not just the number.

Public Colleges and Technical Centers

20 of the 29 public prices are under $15,000, and most of those are tuition for state or district residents. The California community colleges here charge residents $46 per unit, which is why the four lowest prices come from California.

Private Aviation Schools and Universities

Private prices start at $25,480 and run to $55,415. IPEDS shows them charging one rate wherever you live, and several bundle more into the price. Epic Flight Academy's $36,995 includes every FAA exam fee: $33,500 tuition + $1,500 books + $145 application + $1,850 examiner fees = $36,995.

Read the fine print on dates. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics bills students starting after July 1, 2026 by the credit, so its Hagerstown, Youngstown, and Myrtle Beach campuses now list $31,200 in tuition for new students, before books, tools, and FAA exam fees.

Saint Francis University's $55,415 covers tuition (55 credits at $725, $39,875), per-semester tech, lab, book and exam fees ($4,100), FAA examiner (DME) fees ($1,800), uniforms ($190), and the optional toolkit ($7,975) and laptop ($1,475). It is lower if you already own a toolkit and laptop that meet program specifications.

Per-Credit and Per-Semester Rates

Some schools publish a rate instead of a total. These aren't comparable to the totals above, so they're kept separate and not converted.

One exception: San Diego Miramar College states its unit count, so you can do the math. Its certificate tuition is $3,588 for California residents (78 units × $46) and $23,712 for non-residents (78 × $304), before tools.

In-State vs. Out-of-State Tuition by School Type

IPEDS, the federal college data system, reports each college's yearly tuition. This data covers 97 institutions on the FAA list. At public colleges, where you live matters most: median out-of-state tuition at community colleges is about 2.2 times the in-state median ($7,728 ÷ $3,537).

By that measure, private schools' median tuition is about 5.1 times community college in-state tuition ($17,948 ÷ $3,537). But IPEDS tuition is campus-wide, so it misses aviation program fees. Aims Community College lists $10,050 in-district tuition for its degree plus about $25,500 in lab and course fees. It also shows how residency tiers stack: $10,050 in-district, $16,280 in-state, and $45,410 out-of-state.

How Much Does an A&P License Cost?

The FAA mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P license, costs mostly testing. The FAA doesn't charge to issue the certificate.

But the three written knowledge tests are given at commercial testing centers for a fee, and a Designated Mechanic Examiner charges for the oral and practical tests (FAA, retrieved September 22, 2026). Two schools, Cuesta College and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, list $175 per written test.

Cuesta's per-test prices add up to more than the single-figure quotes: 3 × $175 + 2 × $800 = $2,125, up to 3 × $175 + 2 × $1,200 = $2,925. Examiner fees differ from school to school in this table, so ask your school what its graduates paid last term. The FAA's study handbooks are free. Our guide to the mechanic exams covers what each test asks.

Tools, Books, and Program Fees

Tuition quotes often leave out tools. Some schools require you to buy a set, some sell one as an option, and some lend tools during training: Cuesta College and US Aviation Academy's Kissimmee campus both do.

Program fees add up too. Pearl River Community College charges $1,000 a semester and Helena College $350 a semester on top of tuition. At TCAT Morristown, textbooks and supplies ($11,590) cost more than tuition and fees ($7,705).

How Much Does It Cost to Become an Aircraft Mechanic?

Add the program price, the FAA tests, tools, and anything the price leaves out. At Cuesta College, where tools are lent, that's $2,208 tuition + about $500 in books + $2,125 to $2,925 in testing = $4,833 to $5,633, before campus fees and living costs. Lake Area Technical College's $29,552 estimate already includes tools, a laptop, and an FAA test fee.

School is the most common route: about two-thirds of new mechanics certified through an aviation maintenance school, 20% through work experience, and 14% through the military (ATEC 2025 Pipeline Report). The how long aviation maintenance school takes guide covers the time side, and how to become an aircraft mechanic walks through each step.

How to Pay for Aviation Maintenance School

GI Bill

Of the 225 FAA-approved schools, 19 say on their own program pages that they're GI Bill approved, including West-MEC and Lake Area Tech. For non-degree programs, VA sets your monthly payment by scheduled clock hours, and hands-on programs count 22 or more hours a week as full time. Confirm any program in WEAMS Public, VA's search tool for approved schools, before you enroll.

Federal Student Aid

Pell Grants and federal loans require you to be enrolled in an eligible program at an eligible institution (34 CFR 668.32). Ask each school directly. West-MEC and Eastern Florida State College both say their programs qualify, and SOWELA reports that 37 aviation maintenance students averaged $6,572.15 in grants and scholarships in 2024-25. Indian Hills Community College says Iowa's Last Dollar Scholarship can cover all of your tuition.

Apprenticeships and Employers

If you can get hired at a repair station or operator first, the work-experience route trades tuition for 30 months of documented work. An aircraft mechanic apprenticeship formalizes that, and the military aircraft mechanic route builds experience while you serve. If an employer hires you before you're certificated, ask whether it pays for testing or school.

School prices: 49 school program and cost pages, each linked in the Source column of its table, checked September 22, 2026.