The Best Aviation Maintenance Associate Degree Programs in 2027
The best aviation maintenance associate degree programs are at San Diego Miramar College (74.6), Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Los Angeles Campus (74.1), and Broward College (73.8). Each pairs an associate degree with FAA-approved (Part 147) aircraft mechanic training.
San Diego Miramar College scores on about $2,760 in program tuition and a 48% graduation rate. Spartan Los Angeles scores on a 64% graduation rate and 22 aviation maintenance awards a year.
Broward College scores on about $3,116 in program tuition and a 39% graduation rate, plus both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings, an associate degree option, and an avionics option.
The Rule
Which Programs Count as Associate Degrees
A school offers an aviation maintenance associate degree for this list when it names one on its own pages (an AAS, AS, or AOS, for example), or reports associate degrees in aviation maintenance fields to IPEDS. A certificate or diploma alone does not count.
Associate Degree Programs Ranked
127
School websites and IPEDS
Associate Degrees Awarded
2,154
IPEDS, latest year
Lowest Comparable Cost
$2,208
Ranked list
Top Score
74.6
San Diego Miramar College
Ranked Cards
The 12 Best Aviation Maintenance Associate Degree Programs
Each card shows the national score out of 100, the factor bars behind it, and the associate degree the school names, with the associate degrees it reports to IPEDS each year.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#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)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day or night track (students choose one, not a combination)
-
#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
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day Shift (Airframe & Powerplant Diploma, Mon-Fri 7:30am-1:45pm)
- Starts
- 1/5/26; 3/16/26; 5/26/26; 8/3/26; 9/8/26; 11/16/26
-
#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)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Morning or evening classes
- Starts
- Spring 2027 cohort (Express track, applications open)
- Avionics
- Separate avionics program at the same institute
-
#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
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Avionics electronics technology certificate (NCATT certified)
-
#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)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#6
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, Utah
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
-
#7
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California
69.4 of 100
This program fits a working adult in Orange County who needs evening, weekend, or online scheduling and wants airframe, powerplant, avionics, and helicopter maintenance training under one roof.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Specialization; Certificate of Achievement; plus 1 more
- Length
- Certificate of Achievement: less than 2 years; Associate Degree: under 4 years
- Cost
- $46, per unit, in-state (CA resident)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Evening, Weekend, and Online Courses
- Avionics
- Avionics track
-
#8
Gavilan College
San Martin, California
67.0 of 100
This program fits someone who wants a full two-year Associate of Science in Aviation with both Airframe and Powerplant ratings, training at a public California community college's own airport campus.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Completion in Aviation Maintenance Technology (Airframe); Certificate of Completion in Aviation Maintenance Technology (Powerplant); plus 1 more
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- fall semester; spring semester
-
#9
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, California
67.0 of 100
This program fits students who want avionics training added to their airframe and powerplant coursework, on a two-year track toward an associate degree in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate degree (Airframe and Powerplant AS); Certificate - Airframe and Powerplant Technician; plus 2 more
- Length
- 2-year curriculum
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Aircraft Electrical and Avionics Technician certificate
-
#10
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California
66.5 of 100
This program suits California residents who want a public two-year path to an AS degree or certificate in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, at a $2,760 total in-state cost with day or evening class options in Walnut, California.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AS; Certificate
- Length
- two years
- Cost
- $2,760, total program, in-state (A.S. degree, 60 units)
- Schedule
- day or evening
- Starts
- Next potential application period opens April 2027 for a fall 2027 start
-
#11
Tarrant County College
Fort Worth, Texas
66.4 of 100
This program fits Fort Worth-area students who want airframe or powerplant training plus an avionics line maintenance certificate, though the day track runs a full two years and typically carries a lengthy waitlist.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Airframe or Powerplant; Level 1 & 2 Certificates; plus 1 more
- Length
- Day track: 2 years; Night track: 3 years
- Cost
- $4,440, total tuition and fees, AAS Airframe or AAS Powerplant (60 credits each), in-state in-county, 2026-2027
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Night: Monday-Thursday, 5:30-11 p.m.
- Avionics
- Avionics Line Maintenance enhanced skills certificate
-
#12
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
65.9 of 100
This program suits students who want an accredited two-year degree with avionics electives and a 76% graduation rate at a private campus at Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Associate in Specialized Technology Degree
- Length
- 20 Months
- Cost
- $44,250, total program for students starting after July 1, 2026 (5 semesters, 77 credits)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Avionics electives
The Rest of the List
More Associate Degree Programs, Ranked
| Rank | School | State | Score | Associate Awards a Year | Comparable Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance Indianapolis | Indiana | 65.7 | 67 | |
| 14 | Craven Community College | North Carolina | 65.7 | 9 | $5,472 |
| 15 | Liberty University | Virginia | 65.1 | 2 | |
| 16 | Hallmark University | Texas | 63.9 | 115 | |
| 17 | Sacramento City College | California | 63.8 | 8 | $3,220 |
| 18 | Southern Arkansas University Tech | Arkansas | 63.7 | 1 | $6,900 |
| 19 | College of Alameda | California | 63.7 | 24 | $2,208 |
| 20 | Fox Valley Technical College | Wisconsin | 63.1 | 3 | $11,700 |
| 21 | Lake Area Technical College | South Dakota | 61.8 | 9 | $29,552 |
| 22 | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver Campus | Colorado | 61.8 | 141 | $36,741 |
Showing the first 10 of 115. See every school in the aviation maintenance program finder.
Methodology
How We Ranked Associate Degree Programs
Aviation maintenance associate degree programs are ordered by the national score: outcomes 30, cost 25, program depth 20, access 15, scale 10. An associate degree option is worth 6 of the program depth points in that score.
The full rules are on our ranking methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Aviation Maintenance Associate Degree Programs?
Do You Need an Associate Degree to Become an Aircraft Mechanic?
How Many Aviation Maintenance Associate Degrees Are Awarded Each Year?
What Does an Aviation Maintenance Associate Degree Cost?
Can I Go On to a Bachelor's Degree?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- FAA: Become an Aviation Mechanic
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.