Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Colorado
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Colorado
5
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
3
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
61.8
Spartan Denver
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$82,080
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
2,690
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft mechanic employment in Colorado is projected to grow 21.3% through 2034, well above the national rate of 4%, in a state whose median pay, $82,080, already tops the $79,870 national figure.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology's Denver Campus, in Broomfield, runs a private Associate of Applied Science, while Cherry Creek Innovation Campus in Centennial and Warren Tech South in Littleton offer certificate tracks through the Denver-area career and technical system. Aims Community College in Loveland publishes a total in-district cost, and Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, public, teaches a five-semester certificate and AAS on the western slope.
Aircraft mechanics in Colorado earn a median of $82,080 a year, above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 17th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 21.3% through 2034, adding 580 positions, with about 280 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Colorado
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Colorado, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Colorado
Best Outcomes in Colorado
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver Campus
Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 61.8 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 63%.
Most Affordable in Colorado
Lowest comparable program cost of the 3 ranked schools with one: $10,050, published by the school.
Colorado Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Colorado
The 3 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Colorado, 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 Colorado
- Best Outcomes in Colorado
#1
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver Campus
Broomfield, Colorado #23 nationally
61.8 of 100
This program fits students who want both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings from an Associate of Applied Science in about two years, at a Spartan College campus in the Denver area.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science
- Length
- 23 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- 1/5/26, 3/16/26, 6/29/26, 9/7/26, 11/16/26
-
- Most Affordable in Colorado
#2
Aims Community College
Loveland, Colorado #69 nationally
50.4 of 100
This program fits students who want a two-year Aircraft Maintenance Technician degree or certificate near Denver, with a direct hiring pathway into Frontier Airlines.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAS; Certificate
- Length
- six semesters, over two years
- Cost
- $10,050, total program tuition, in-district (70 credits)
- Starts
- Spring 2027 cohort applications open, deadline November 20
-
#3
Colorado Northwestern Community College
Rangely, Colorado #164 nationally
37.7 of 100
Colorado Northwestern Community College suits students who want on-campus housing and a five-semester path to an AAS or Certificate, since the next certificated school is 173.9 miles away.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate; AAS
- Length
- five-semester program
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartan Denver | 61.8 | 26.7 | 1.5 | 14 | 10 | 9.6 |
| 2 | Aims Community College | 50.4 | † | 12.2 | 14 | 5 | † |
| 3 | Colorado Northwestern Community College | 37.7 | 10.5 | 11.6 | 14 | 0 | 1.6 |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs in Colorado
These 2 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college rankings.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Colorado 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 Denver | 4 | Spartan Denver | $86,830 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Colorado Springs | 3 | Spartan Denver | $79,810 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Colorado
BLS reports a median annual wage of $82,080 ($39.46 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Colorado, where 2,690 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 17th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 2,720 in 2024 to 3,300 in 2034 (+21.3%), with about 280 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Colorado
See the full Colorado aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Denver's Aircraft Mechanic Pay Leads Colorado
Denver's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $86,830 a year, ahead of both the $82,080 statewide figure and Colorado Springs's $79,810, in a metro of 3,052,498 people versus Colorado Springs's 777,634.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, and Warren Tech South all train inside that Denver market. Aims Community College in Loveland and Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely serve students farther from the metro instead.
A High School Path Into Colorado's Aviation Industry
Cherry Creek Innovation Campus in Centennial and Warren Tech South in Littleton both run certificate tracks built for career and technical education students, giving younger students in the Denver area a route into aircraft maintenance before they reach a two-year college.
Western Slope and Front Range Training Options
Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely serves the state's western slope, far from the Front Range schools clustered around Denver. Aims Community College in Loveland sits between the two, publishing a total program cost for its six-semester track.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Colorado
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 Colorado 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 Colorado
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 Colorado?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Colorado?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Colorado Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Colorado?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic License a State or Federal Credential?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Colorado?
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.