The Best Accelerated Aviation Maintenance Programs in 2026
The best accelerated aviation maintenance programs are at Southern Utah University (70.1, 18 months), Hallmark University (63.9, 16 months), and Lake Area Technical College (61.8, 18 months). All three are FAA-approved (Part 147) aircraft mechanic programs.
Southern Utah University scores on a 61% graduation rate and about $9,279 in program tuition, plus both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings, an associate degree option, and an avionics option. Hallmark University scores on a 66% graduation rate and 115 aviation maintenance awards a year.
The shortest ranked program is 10 months at Thrust Institute of Maintenance, #11 on this list.
The Rule
Which Programs Count as Accelerated
A program is one of the accelerated aviation maintenance programs here when the school publishes one clear length of 18 months or less for the whole program and trains for both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings. Lengths given as a range, as a minimum, or only in semesters or years are not used.
Accelerated Programs Ranked
25
School websites
Shortest Ranked Program
10 months
Thrust Institute of Maintenance
Length Limit
18 months
Both ratings
Top Score
70.1
Southern Utah University
Ranked Cards
The 10 Best Accelerated Aviation Maintenance Programs, Ranked
Each card shows the national score out of 100, the factor bars behind it, and the length the school publishes, linked to its program page.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, Utah #6 nationally
70.1 of 100
This program fits students who want an associate degree with both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings, an avionics option, and GI Bill eligibility in Cedar City, Utah.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Associate's Degree with Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certifications
- Length
- about 18 months / five consecutive semesters
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Avionics certificate alongside the AMT program
-
#2
Hallmark University
San Antonio, Texas #16 nationally
63.9 of 100
This program fits someone who wants an accelerated, in-person path to a combined Airframe and Powerplant AAS, built around shorter terms rather than traditional semesters.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- AAS
- Length
- 16 months
-
#3
Lake Area Technical College
Watertown, South Dakota #22 nationally
61.8 of 100
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.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Diploma/AAS
- Length
- approximately 18 months, spanning two academic years from August through May
- Cost
- $29,552, total estimated program cost, 2026
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- August
-
#4
North Central Institute
Clarksville, Tennessee #25 nationally
61.5 of 100
This program suits students in the Clarksville, Tennessee area who want a private 17-month path to a combined Airframe and Powerplant certificate, with GI Bill benefits available and a 100% IPEDS graduation rate.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA Airframe & Powerplant Certificate
- Length
- 17 months; 56 Semester Hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#5
WSU Tech
Wichita, Kansas #35 nationally
57.4 of 100
This program fits Kansas students who want an 18-month combined aviation maintenance associate degree or a shorter technical certificate, training at the National Center for Aviation Training since the nearest alternative campus sits 75 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science, Aviation Maintenance Technology (Airframe & Powerplant); Technical Certificate, Aviation Maintenance Airframe; plus 4 more
- Length
- 18 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#6
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska #44 nationally
55.4 of 100
This program fits Alaska students who want the fastest route to an airframe and powerplant credential, completing training in 12 months at a dedicated airport-based facility.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant Certificate; Airframe Certificate; plus 2 more
- Length
- 12 months (one-year program)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- New cohort begins the last week of August of each year
-
#7
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inland Empire Campus
Riverside, California #75 nationally
49.7 of 100
This program fits students who want a shorter, 15-month diploma covering both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings at a Spartan College affiliate campus in Riverside, California.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma
- Length
- 15 Months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- 1/5/26; 3/9/26; 5/11/26; 7/20/26; 9/21/26; 11/30/26
-
#8
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee #76 nationally
49.3 of 100
This 18-month, full-time diploma suits Nashville-area students aiming for both airframe and powerplant certification eligibility.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Diploma
- Length
- 18 months (1,944 clock hours)
- Cost
- $7,705, total program (tuition/fees)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#9
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Shawnee, Oklahoma #87 nationally
47.1 of 100
This program fits an adult student in Oklahoma who wants a full-time, 18-month path to both Airframe and Powerplant certification with FAA testing available on campus.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certificate
- Length
- 18-month course, 63 weeks, 1,920 clock hours
- Cost
- $5,682, total program tuition, in-district (out-of-district is double)
-
#10
A&P Mechanic Institute
Lakeland, Florida #105 nationally
44.7 of 100
This program suits students who want a single private campus offering combined airframe and powerplant ratings on a 15-month day or night schedule in Lakeland, Florida.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification
- Length
- 15 months
- Schedule
- day and night classes
The Rest of the List
More Accelerated Programs, Ranked
| Rank | School | State | Score | Published Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Thrust Institute of Maintenance | Texas | 44.7 | 10 months |
| 12 | Universal Technical Institute Houston | Texas | 44.7 | 18 months |
| 13 | Dallas College | Texas | 42.3 | 13 months |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hagerstown Campus | Maryland | 40.8 | 16 months |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Myrtle Beach Campus | South Carolina | 40.8 | 16 months |
| 16 | Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus | Ohio | 40.8 | 16 months |
| 17 | Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy | Texas | 39.7 | 18 months |
| 18 | National Aviation Academy, Tampa Bay Campus | Florida | 39.7 | 14 months |
| 19 | Southwest Technology Center | Oklahoma | 39.7 | 18 months |
| 20 | Universal Technical Institute Miramar | Florida | 39.7 | 18 months |
| 21 | Yuut Elitnaurviat | Alaska | 39.7 | 18 months |
| 22 | Epic Flight Academy | Florida | 38.4 | 15 months |
| 23 | Midland College | Texas | 31.6 | 18 months |
| 24 | School of Missionary Aviation Technology | Michigan | 30.2 | 12 months |
| 25 | US Aviation Academy Kissimmee | Florida | 29.1 | 16 months |
Methodology
How We Ranked These Programs
Accelerated aviation maintenance programs are ordered by the national score used for every ranking on the site: outcomes 30, cost 25, program depth 20, access 15, scale 10. Length decides who qualifies, not the order, so a shorter program can rank below a longer one with better outcomes or cost.
| School | Location | Months | Score | Rank on This List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrust Institute of Maintenance | Addison, Texas | 10 | 44.7 | #11 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, Alaska | 12 | 55.4 | #6 |
| School of Missionary Aviation Technology | Ionia, Michigan | 12 | 30.2 | #24 |
| Dallas College | Dallas, Texas | 13 | 42.3 | #13 |
| National Aviation Academy, Tampa Bay Campus | Clearwater, Florida | 14 | 39.7 | #18 |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inland Empire Campus | Riverside, California | 15 | 49.7 | #7 |
| A&P Mechanic Institute | Lakeland, Florida | 15 | 44.7 | #10 |
| Epic Flight Academy | New Smyrna Beach, Florida | 15 | 38.4 | #22 |
| Hallmark University | San Antonio, Texas | 16 | 63.9 | #2 |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Hagerstown Campus | Hagerstown, Maryland | 16 | 40.8 | #14 |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Myrtle Beach Campus | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 16 | 40.8 | #15 |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus | Vienna, Ohio | 16 | 40.8 | #16 |
| US Aviation Academy Kissimmee | Kissimmee, Florida | 16 | 29.1 | #25 |
| North Central Institute | Clarksville, Tennessee | 17 | 61.5 | #4 |
| Southern Utah University | Cedar City, Utah | 18 | 70.1 | #1 |
| Lake Area Technical College | Watertown, South Dakota | 18 | 61.8 | #3 |
| WSU Tech | Wichita, Kansas | 18 | 57.4 | #5 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville | Nashville, Tennessee | 18 | 49.3 | #8 |
| Gordon Cooper Technology Center | Shawnee, Oklahoma | 18 | 47.1 | #9 |
| Universal Technical Institute Houston | Houston, Texas | 18 | 44.7 | #12 |
| Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy | Conroe, Texas | 18 | 39.7 | #17 |
| Southwest Technology Center | Altus, Oklahoma | 18 | 39.7 | #19 |
| Universal Technical Institute Miramar | Miramar, Florida | 18 | 39.7 | #20 |
| Yuut Elitnaurviat | Bethel, Alaska | 18 | 39.7 | #21 |
| Midland College | Midland, Texas | 18 | 31.6 | #23 |
The full rules are on our ranking methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Accelerated Aviation Maintenance Programs?
What Is the Fastest Aviation Maintenance Program?
Does the FAA Set a Minimum Number of School Hours?
Is an Accelerated Program Faster Than Learning on the Job?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D (Mechanics): current as of Sept 18, 2026 issue
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 147 as it read Jan 1, 2022 (pre-rewrite, superseded)
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 147 (Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools): current as of Sept 18, 2026 issue
All sources retrieved .
Every figure on this page comes from a published source listed above. Our data methodology explains how the school list, distances, pay data, and rankings are built.