Colorado Springs at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Colorado Springs
3
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
61.8
Spartan Denver
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Colorado Springs Metro
400
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$79,810
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
1.43
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 17820).
Fort Carson's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade keeps Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters flying out of Colorado Springs, with crew chiefs serving as the unit's maintenance experts. Fourth Front Aviation runs a separate maintenance and avionics shop at Colorado Springs Airport. Employment concentration for the occupation here runs 1.43 times the national rate.
Training means a trip up toward the Denver area. Cherry Creek Innovation Campus in Centennial is 48.9 miles away, and Warren Tech South in Littleton is 54.9 miles out. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology's Denver campus, in Broomfield, is 74.5 miles from Colorado Springs.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Colorado Springs
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Colorado Springs, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Colorado Springs
Best Outcomes Near Colorado Springs
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 Near Colorado Springs
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $10,050, published by the school.
Colorado Springs Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Colorado Springs
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Colorado Springs, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 181 miles so the list has at least 3. High school programs within 100 miles follow the ranking. Scores are national, out of 100, and the table after the cards shows the points behind them.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Colorado Springs.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Colorado Springs
- Best Outcomes Near Colorado Springs
#1
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Denver Campus
Broomfield, Colorado 75 miles from Colorado Springs #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 Near Colorado Springs
#2
Aims Community College
Loveland, Colorado 110 miles from Colorado Springs #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
Western Nebraska Community College
Sidney, Nebraska 181 miles from Colorado Springs #160 nationally
39.3 of 100
This program fits Nebraska residents who want an in-state Associate of Applied Science or Certificate covering three maintenance phases, especially since it is the state's only FAA-certificated Part 147 school.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science; Certificate
- Length
- minimum 1,900 clock hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
| 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 | Western Nebraska Community College | 39.3 | 13.3 | † | 6 | 5 | 2.5 |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Colorado Springs
These 2 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college ranking, nearest first.
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Colorado ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Colorado Springs
Aircraft mechanics in the Colorado Springs metro area earn a median of $79,810 a year ($38.37 an hour), $2,270 below the Colorado median of $82,080.
Colorado Springs Pay vs. Colorado and U.S. Medians
The Colorado Springs median is $60 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Colorado aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Colorado Springs
BLS counts 400 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Colorado Springs metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 1.43.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Helicopter Operations
4th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Carson
Army helicopter maintenance brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs
The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Carson operates and maintains Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, with crew chiefs serving as the subject-matter experts responsible for helicopter upkeep.
Source: Flying High: Nurturing Expertise and Unity with the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade - DVIDS (dvidshub.net)
Business Aviation
Fourth Front Aviation
Aircraft maintenance and avionics shop at Colorado Springs Airport
Fourth Front Aviation runs a brand-agnostic maintenance and avionics shop at Colorado Springs Airport, handling inspections, repairs, engine work and special-missions avionics installations.
Source: Fourth Front Aviation - Colorado Springs (fourth-front.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
City of Colorado Springs Municipal (COS) recorded 1,248,261 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 | All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Colorado Springs Municipal | COS | Small hub | 1,248,261 | 92,862,000 |
Local Context
Fort Carson's Helicopter Maintenance Brigade
Fort Carson's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade operates and maintains Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, with crew chiefs serving as the unit's maintenance experts.
That kind of always-on Army helicopter work sits alongside general aviation maintenance at Colorado Springs Airport, where Fourth Front Aviation runs its own maintenance and avionics shop.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Colorado Springs: Common Questions
What Schools Near Colorado Springs Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Colorado Springs?
Who Are the Major Aviation Maintenance Employers in Colorado Springs?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Colorado Springs?
Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
More Metro Guides
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings in Other Metro Areas
Sources for School and Pay Data
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (49-3011)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Carson: Flying High: Nurturing Expertise and Unity with the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade - DVIDS
- Fourth Front Aviation: Fourth Front Aviation - Colorado Springs
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.