Lake Area Technical College Aviation Maintenance Program

Program Overview

This program fits South Dakota students who want the state's only FAA-certificated Part 147 school, training airframe and powerplant ratings over about 18 months with GI Bill eligibility.

Lake Area Technical College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program leads to a diploma or an Associate of Applied Science degree, covering both airframe and powerplant ratings over roughly 18 months across two academic years, August through May. Training includes engine runs, taxi operations and flight testing on a fleet that includes small Cessnas, a Beechcraft King Air and a Learjet, taught in small classes on the Watertown, South Dakota campus.

Lake Area is South Dakota's only FAA-certificated Part 147 school, so weigh it as a technical college program rather than a university track. The total estimated program cost is $29,552 for 2026, and GI Bill benefits apply. Lake Area's IPEDS graduation rate is 73%, and the next Part 147 program sits about 138.1 miles away.

• Training fleet includes Cessna 172s, Beechcraft King Air, and a Learjet 24
• Hands-on experience with engine runs, taxi operations, and flight testing
• Small class sizes with experienced instructors

As stated on lakeareatech.edu

Federal IPEDS figures for Lake Area Technical College, a public institution. Aviation maintenance award levels: Associate's. Completions across these programs: 9 per year.

Tuition is the institution's published annual rate; the program's own published cost appears in the facts table when the school states one. See the record on College Navigator.

Lake Area Technical College is at 2600 Boeing Ave., Watertown, SD 57201. Compare it with every aviation maintenance school in South Dakota.

Annual median wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011), BLS OEWS May 2025. See the South Dakota aircraft mechanic salary data.

The closest FAA-approved schools to Lake Area Technical College, by straight-line distance.