The Best Community College Aviation Maintenance Programs in 2027
The best community college aviation maintenance programs are at San Diego Miramar College (74.6), Broward College (73.8), and Victor Valley College (71.1). All three are public colleges with FAA-approved (Part 147) aircraft mechanic programs.
San Diego Miramar College scores on about $2,760 in program tuition and a 48% graduation rate. 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.
Victor Valley College scores on a 62% graduation rate and a published program cost of $3,772.
The Rule
Which Schools Count as Community Colleges
A school is on this list when it is a public two-year college that grants associate degrees, including technical community colleges and state technical colleges. Private aviation schools, universities, and technical centers that do not grant associate degrees are ranked elsewhere.
Community Colleges Ranked
117
Every open community college
In the National Top 10
7
Methodology 2.1
Lowest Comparable Cost
$2,208
Chaffey College
States
39
Ranked list
Ranked Cards
The 12 Best Community College Aviation Maintenance Programs
Each card shows the national score out of 100, the factor bars behind it, and the credentials the college lists, linked to its program page.
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
Broward College
Pembroke Pines, Florida #3 nationally
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
-
#3
Victor Valley College
Victorville, California #5 nationally
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
-
#4
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California #7 nationally
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
-
#5
Gavilan College
San Martin, California #8 nationally
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
-
#6
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, California #9 nationally
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
-
#7
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California #10 nationally
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
-
#8
Tarrant County College
Fort Worth, Texas #11 nationally
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
-
#9
Craven Community College
Havelock, North Carolina #14 nationally
65.7 of 100
Craven Community College fits students who want hands-on training on military and civilian aircraft with a clear transfer pathway to a bachelor's degree at East Carolina University.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science; Diploma
- Length
- four semesters plus two summer school sessions
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#10
Sacramento City College
McClellan, California #17 nationally
63.8 of 100
This program suits students able to start only in summer and attend evening or Saturday classes, at one of the longest-running aircraft mechanic schools, based at McClellan Hangar near Sacramento, California.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Science (A.S.) degree; Certificate of Achievement
- Length
- Four semesters (2 years)
- Cost
- $3,220, total program, California resident (as of Fall 2022)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Monday to Friday, 3:30pm-9:35pm, and some selected Saturdays
- Starts
- Summer (required entry course AMTP 309 offered only in Summer)
-
#11
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
-
#12
College of Alameda
Alameda, California #19 nationally
63.7 of 100
College of Alameda suits someone who can commit to two years of evening classes, five days a week, and who can wait, since the school has paused new Aviation Maintenance Technology applications for the next two years.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Science (AS) in Airframe; Associate of Science (AS) in Powerplant; plus 2 more
- Length
- Two years full-time, or part-time option, delivered in 18-week blocks
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Evening, five days a week from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (holidays excluded)
- Admissions
- The school notes it is not accepting new applications for the next two years due to demand
The Rest of the List
More Community College Programs, Ranked
| Rank | School | State | Score | Graduation Rate | Comparable Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Fox Valley Technical College | Wisconsin | 63.1 | 65% | $11,700 |
| 14 | Lake Area Technical College | South Dakota | 61.8 | 73% | $29,552 |
| 15 | Iowa Western Community College | Iowa | 61.7 | 40% | |
| 16 | Enterprise State Community College | Alabama | 61.5 | 42% | |
| 17 | Somerset Community College | Kentucky | 59.8 | 43% | $9,072 |
| 18 | Jefferson Community and Technical College | Kentucky | 59.0 | 35% | $9,072 |
| 19 | Texarkana College | Arkansas | 59.0 | $4,870 | |
| 20 | Hinds Community College | Mississippi | 58.9 | 43% | $7,400 |
| 21 | Wayne Community College | North Carolina | 57.8 | 49% | |
| 22 | WSU Tech | Kansas | 57.4 | 43% | $10,856 |
Showing the first 10 of 105. See every school in the aviation maintenance program finder.
Methodology
How We Ranked Community Colleges
Community college aviation maintenance programs are ordered by the national score: outcomes 30, cost 25, program depth 20, access 15, scale 10. Cost uses the college's published whole-program price, or IPEDS in-state tuition times the published length, so in-district and in-state students are the ones the figure fits.
The full rules are on our ranking methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Community College Aviation Maintenance Programs?
Which Community College Aviation Maintenance Program Costs the Least?
Do Community Colleges Offer an Aviation Maintenance Associate Degree?
How Do Community College Graduation Rates Compare?
How Many States Have a Community College Aviation Maintenance Program?
Sources
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.