Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Arkansas
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Arkansas
5
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
5
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
63.7
SAU Tech
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$65,420
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Pay is the sobering number for aircraft mechanics in Arkansas: a median of $65,420 a year ranks 44th among 50 states, well under the $79,870 national figure, even though the field is projected to grow 13% through 2034, above the national rate of 4%.
Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville and Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden, both public, run Associate of Applied Science tracks in the state's north and south. University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock teaches day and evening classes and publishes a total program cost, while Texarkana College and Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis train along the state's eastern border.
Little Rock's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $72,700 a year, above the statewide figure, while Arkansas overall trails the $79,870 national median. Growth is still projected at 13% through 2034, above the national rate of 4%, adding 80 positions with about 60 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Arkansas
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Arkansas, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Arkansas
Best Outcomes in Arkansas
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 63.7 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 62%.
Most Affordable in Arkansas
Lowest comparable program cost of the 4 ranked schools with one: $4,870, published by the school.
Arkansas Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Arkansas
The 5 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Arkansas, best score first. Each card shows the school's verified facts and the points it earned on each factor. Scores are national, out of 100, so a school scores the same here as on the national ranking.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick in Arkansas
- Best Outcomes in Arkansas
#1
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Camden, Arkansas #18 nationally
63.7 of 100
Southern Arkansas University Tech fits students who want a public four-semester path to an aviation maintenance associate degree, with prerequisites available online before in-person training in Camden, Arkansas.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAS; Technical Certificate; plus 1 more
- Length
- 4 semesters (87 credit hours) for the AAS degree
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
- Most Affordable in Arkansas
#2
Texarkana College
Texarkana, Arkansas #31 nationally
59.0 of 100
This program fits Texarkana-area students who want a shorter certificate or a two-year associate's degree covering both airframe and powerplant ratings, near Texarkana Regional Airport.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate; Associate's Degree
- Length
- Certificate: 1 year (45 hours of instruction)
- Cost
- $4,870, total program, certificate (45 hours), in-district Texas resident, approximate
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Arkansas Northeastern College
Blytheville, Arkansas #93 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program fits students near Blytheville who want a public two-year path to combined airframe and powerplant ratings, with strict FAA-mandated attendance built into the schedule.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- A.A.S. Aviation Maintenance; Technical Certificate - Aviation Airframe Maintenance; plus 1 more
-
#4
Arkansas State University Mid-South
West Memphis, Arkansas #117 nationally
42.7 of 100
This program fits students near West Memphis who want a public two-year path to combined airframe and powerplant ratings, completed in four semesters for about $13,091.50 in total cost.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS); Technical Certificate in Airframe Maintenance Technology
- Length
- 4 semesters, 70 to 73 credit hours (16 general education credits plus 54 to 57 aviation credits)
- Cost
- $13,091.50, total program, in-district (range $12,858-$13,325)
-
#5
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock, Arkansas #136 nationally
40.9 of 100
This program fits Arkansas students who want a two-year path to combined airframe and powerplant ratings, with day or evening scheduling and access to FAA Designated Mechanics Examiners.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance; Technical Certificate in Aviation Maintenance Airframe; plus 1 more
- Cost
- $18,000, total program
- Schedule
- Day and Evening Classes
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAU Tech | 63.7 | 26.2 | 18.5 | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| 2 | Texarkana College | 59.0 | † | 20.8 | 14 | 5 | † |
| 3 | Arkansas Northeastern College | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 4 | ASU Mid-South | 42.7 | † | 9.5 | 14 | 0 | † |
| 5 | UA-PTC | 40.9 | 12.3 | 6.8 | 14 | 5 | 2.8 |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Arkansas Metro Area
Each metro ranking scores every school within commuting range and adds the local airports, employers, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics.
| Metro Ranking | Schools Within 100 mi | Top-Ranked School | Median Pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Little Rock | 2 | SAU Tech | $72,700 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Fayetteville | 3 | Tulsa Tech | $44,190 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Arkansas
BLS reports a median annual wage of $65,420 ($31.45 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Arkansas, where 720 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 44th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 640 in 2024 to 730 in 2034 (+13%), with about 60 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Arkansas
See the full Arkansas aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Little Rock's Pay Premium Over the Rest of Arkansas
Little Rock's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $72,700 a year, well above the $65,420 statewide figure, in a metro of 769,258 people. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, with 605,615 people, reports a lower median of $44,190.
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College sits inside that higher-paying Little Rock market, in North Little Rock. The state's other four schools, in Blytheville, Camden, Texarkana, and West Memphis, train along Arkansas's borders instead.
Training Along Arkansas's State Lines
Three of Arkansas's 5 schools sit close to a state line. Texarkana College trains at the Texas border, Arkansas State University Mid-South serves West Memphis across the river from Tennessee, and Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville is a short drive from Missouri. Students on either side of those lines have a nearby option.
Certificate or Associate Degree in Arkansas
Texarkana College offers a shorter certificate alongside a longer associate's degree, giving students a choice of pace. Southern Arkansas University Tech and Arkansas State University Mid-South both build toward a full Associate of Applied Science, while Arkansas Northeastern College offers separate technical certificates in airframe and powerplant maintenance for students who want just one rating.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Arkansas
Every open FAA-approved college-level school gets one national score out of 100: Outcomes 30 (IPEDS graduation rate), Cost 25 (comparable whole-program price), Program Depth 20, Access 15, and Scale 10 (IPEDS awards a year). This page orders the schools in Arkansas by that score, so the ranks here match the national list of 204 ranked schools.
The full rules, including how a missing figure is scored at the peer median, are on our ranking methodology page.
FAA Certification
Getting Your A&P License in Arkansas
The FAA issues the mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, under federal rules in 14 CFR Part 65, so the path is the same in every state. You qualify by graduating from an FAA-approved school or by documenting at least 30 months of hands-on work for both ratings, then passing three FAA knowledge tests and an oral and practical exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Schools Are in Arkansas?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Arkansas?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Arkansas Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Arkansas?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic License a State or Federal Credential?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Arkansas?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- IPEDS via Hapi, CIP 47.0607-47.0609 (all levels) + 49.0104 (bachelor's/master's)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates
- Projections Central, State Occupational Employment Projections 2024-2034
- eCFR 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D (Mechanics)
- FAA - Become an Aviation Mechanic
- FAA - Experience Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic
All sources retrieved .
How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.