Best Aviation Maintenance Schools of 2026: FAA-Approved Programs Ranked on Public Data

The best aviation maintenance schools on our 100-point score are Southern Utah University (75.3), Lake Area Technical College (69.9), and Victor Valley College (68.8). All three are FAA-approved schools that report to IPEDS.

Southern Utah University leads 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.

Lake Area Technical College earns its points from a 73% graduation rate and a published program cost of $29,552. Victor Valley College scores on a published program cost of $3,772 and a 62% graduation rate.

These picks come straight from the scores. A category appears only when one school clearly leads it; ties produce no pick. Regions follow the Census Bureau's four regions.

• Best for Evening Students

  Tarrant County College

  Fort Worth, Texas · Rank 5, score 66.9

  Highest-scoring school that publishes an evening, weekend, or hybrid schedule option.

• Best University Pathway

  Southern Utah University

  Cedar City, Utah · Rank 1, score 75.3

  Highest-scoring four-year university in the ranking.

• Best in the Northeast

  Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus

  West Mifflin, Pennsylvania · Rank 9, score 65.4

  Highest score among ranked schools in the Census Northeast region.

• Best in the Midwest

  Lake Area Technical College

  Watertown, South Dakota · Rank 2, score 69.9

  Highest score among ranked schools in the Census Midwest region.

• Best in the South

  Tarrant County College

  Fort Worth, Texas · Rank 5, score 66.9

  Highest score among ranked schools in the Census South region.

• Best in the West

  Southern Utah University

  Cedar City, Utah · Rank 1, score 75.3

  Highest score among ranked schools in the Census West region.

Each card shows the facts behind the score: the school's own program details, its IPEDS graduation rate and yearly completions, and the points earned on each factor out of 100.

1. #1

   Southern Utah University

   Cedar City, Utah

   75.3 of 100

   Type

   University

   Credentials

   Associate's Degree with Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certifications

   Length

   about 18 months / five consecutive semesters

   Completion Outcomes

   61% graduation rate 26.7 / 30

   Affordability

   $9,279 from IPEDS tuition 22 / 25

   Program Scale

   13 awards per year 6.6 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate
   • Avionics

   15 / 15

   Access

   • GI Bill

   5 / 15

2. #2

   Lake Area Technical College

   Watertown, South Dakota

   69.9 of 100

   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

   Completion Outcomes

   73% graduation rate 30 / 30

   Affordability

   $29,552 published program cost 13.5 / 25

   Program Scale

   9 awards per year 5.4 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate

   11 / 15

   Access

   • GI Bill
   • Start Dates

   10 / 15

3. #3

   Victor Valley College

   Victorville, California

   68.8 of 100

   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)

   Completion Outcomes

   62% graduation rate 27.2 / 30

   Affordability

   $3,772 published program cost 24.3 / 25

   Program Scale

   12 awards per year 6.3 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate

   11 / 15

   Access

   0 / 15

4. #4

   Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver Campus

   Broomfield, Colorado

   68.7 of 100

   Type

   Private Aviation School

   Credentials

   Associate of Applied Science

   Length

   23 months

   Completion Outcomes

   63% graduation rate 27.8 / 30

   Affordability

   $36,741 from IPEDS tuition 10.5 / 25

   Program Scale

   141 awards per year 14.4 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate

   11 / 15

   Access

   • Start Dates

   5 / 15

5. #5

   Tarrant County College

   Fort Worth, Texas

   66.9 of 100

   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

   Completion Outcomes

   34% graduation rate 12.3 / 30

   Affordability

   $7,074 from IPEDS tuition 23 / 25

   Program Scale

   60 awards per year 11.6 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate
   • Avionics

   15 / 15

   Access

   • Flexible Schedule

   5 / 15

6. #6

   San Diego Miramar College

   San Diego, California

   66.7 of 100

   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)

   Completion Outcomes

   48% graduation rate 19.8 / 30

   Affordability

   $2,760 from IPEDS tuition 24.8 / 25

   Program Scale

   11 awards per year 6.1 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate

   11 / 15

   Access

   • Flexible Schedule

   5 / 15

7. #7

   Mt. San Antonio College

   Walnut, California

   66.3 of 100

   Type

   Community College

   Credentials

   AS; Certificate

   Length

   two years

   Cost

   $2,760, total program, in-state (A.S. degree, 60 units)

   Completion Outcomes

   45% graduation rate 18.1 / 30

   Affordability

   $2,760 published program cost 24.8 / 25

   Program Scale

   23 awards per year 8.4 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Associate

   5 / 15

   Access

   • Flexible Schedule
   • Start Dates

   10 / 15

8. #8

   Broward College

   Pembroke Pines, Florida

   65.9 of 100

   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)

   Completion Outcomes

   39% graduation rate 14.9 / 30

   Affordability

   $3,116 from IPEDS tuition 24.6 / 25

   Program Scale

   2 awards per year 1.4 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate
   • Avionics

   15 / 15

   Access

   • Flexible Schedule
   • Start Dates

   10 / 15

9. #9

   Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Pittsburgh Campus

   West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

   65.4 of 100

   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)

   Completion Outcomes

   76% graduation rate 30 / 30

   Affordability

   $44,250 published program cost 7.4 / 25

   Program Scale

   20 awards per year 8 / 15

   Pathway Breadth

   • Both Ratings
   • Associate
   • Avionics

   15 / 15

   Access

   • Start Dates

   5 / 15

10. #10

    Guilford Technical Community College

    Greensboro, North Carolina

    63.2 of 100

    Type

    Community College

    Credentials

    Associate in Applied Science; Diploma; plus 3 more

    Length

    6 semesters (2 years) for full A&P licensing

    Cost

    $9,850, total program (tuition, books, fees, tools)

    Completion Outcomes

    31% graduation rate 10.7 / 30

    Affordability

    $9,850 published program cost 21.8 / 25

    Program Scale

    34 awards per year 9.7 / 15

    Pathway Breadth

    • Both Ratings
    • Associate

    11 / 15

    Access

    • Flexible Schedule
    • Start Dates

    10 / 15

The rest of the ranked schools, scored the same way, with the points each earned on every factor. Each name links to the school's profile.

Graduation rate, cost, and program size are scaled between the lowest and highest value among the 100 scored schools, so the leader on a factor earns its full points. A school that does not publish an input earns no points for it. The score is not re-weighted around the gap and no value is estimated. A school missing two or more of those three inputs is left off the list.

Graduation rate is capped at the top: the scale stops at the 95th-percentile rate among scored schools, 67.2% in this edition, and every school at or above it earns the full completion points. Without the cap, one small school reporting 100% would squeeze everyone else's completion points.

Cost uses the school's published price when it covers the whole program for both ratings. Otherwise it is IPEDS in-state tuition for one year multiplied by the program length the school publishes, in academic years. Per-credit rates, annual rates, and single-rating prices are never compared with program totals, unless the school also publishes the credit total, in which case the math is shown.

IPEDS in-state tuition leaves out mandatory fees, and some states bill most community college charges as per-credit fees. An IPEDS tuition under $1,000 a year is treated as incomplete: the school is scored on its published cost when it has one, and otherwise earns no affordability points.

Cape Cod Community College, for example, reports $576 in tuition to IPEDS but charges $262 a credit hour in tuition and required fees, so its cost is 70 credits at that rate, $18,340.

Program size counts IPEDS aviation maintenance awards per year, CIP 47.0607 to 47.0609, once per institution. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Inland Empire Campus reports to IPEDS under another campus of the same school, so its figures are counted there. Mohawk Valley Community College is left off because the school says the program is closing to new students.

The full rules are on our ranking methodology page, and the rankings hub explains who is eligible.

• School-Reported Pass Rates. Schools publish FAA test pass rates over different periods and test mixes, so the figures are not comparable from one school to the next.
• School-Reported Job Placement Rates. Placement rates are self-reported with different definitions and follow-up windows, so they are not comparable either.
• Sponsorship or Partnership Status. A sponsored listing never changes a score, a rank, or which schools are eligible.
• Reputation Surveys. No survey or opinion input is used. Every input is a published figure.