Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Indiana
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Indiana
4
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
4
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
65.7
AIM Indianapolis
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$63,400
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
1,500
BLS OEWS, May 2025
There are four aviation maintenance schools in Indiana, and the state ranks 47th out of 50 for aircraft mechanic pay, even though the occupation is projected to grow 5.5% through 2034, above the national rate of 4%.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Indianapolis accepts GI Bill benefits for its certificate and Associate of Applied Science, taught in day or evening classes. Ivy Tech's Fort Wayne campus offers a standard AAS alongside an accelerated track built for mechanics who already hold an FAA license, and Vincennes University and Purdue University round out the lineup.
Aircraft mechanics in Indiana earn a median of $63,400 a year, well below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 47th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is still projected at 5.5% through 2034, adding 70 positions, with about 110 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Indiana
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Indiana, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Indiana
Best Outcomes in Indiana
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Indianapolis
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 65.7 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 50%.
Indiana Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Indiana
The 4 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Indiana, 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 Indiana
- Best Outcomes in Indiana
#1
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana #13 nationally
65.7 of 100
Veterans and students who want an on-site FAA testing center and GI Bill eligibility, working toward a certificate or associate degree, fit well on the Indianapolis campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate and Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
- Starts
- September class start referenced (apply-by-9/27 fee waiver)
-
#2
Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana #83 nationally
47.4 of 100
This program fits students in northeast Indiana who want the only Ivy Tech campus offering Aviation Maintenance Technology, with airframe, powerplant, and accelerated tracks for licensed mechanics.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAS - Airframe Concentration; AAS - Powerplant Concentration; plus 2 more
- Length
- AAS Airframe/Powerplant concentrations: 64 credit hours over 4 semesters
- Cost
- $11,416, total program, AAS
- Starts
- a cohort of 16-20 students can start the program each year in the fall
-
#3
Vincennes University
Indianapolis, Indiana #84 nationally
47.3 of 100
This fits students who want a public university aviation maintenance program with small class sizes right at Indianapolis International Airport.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification
- Length
- 1,900 hours of training across 45 different subject areas
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#4
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana #192 nationally
31.7 of 100
- Type
- University
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AIM Indianapolis | 65.7 | 24.2 | † | 6 | 15 | 8 |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Fort Wayne | 47.4 | 16.2 | 10.1 | 14 | 5 | 2.1 |
| 3 | Vincennes University | 47.3 | 15 | † | 8 | 5 | 6.8 |
| 4 | Purdue University | 31.7 | † | † | 0 | 0 | † |
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the Indiana Border
3 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Indianapolis, nearest first.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Indiana 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 Indianapolis | 6 | AIM Indianapolis | $63,280 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Indiana
BLS reports a median annual wage of $63,400 ($30.48 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Indiana, where 1,500 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 47th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 1,320 in 2024 to 1,400 in 2034 (+5.5%), with about 110 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Indiana
See the full Indiana aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
An Accelerated Track for Licensed Mechanics in Indiana
Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne runs a separate, shorter Associate of Applied Science built specifically for mechanics who already hold an FAA license, alongside its standard Airframe and Powerplant concentrations.
Indianapolis's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $63,280 a year, close to the $63,400 statewide figure, in a metro of 2,174,833 people. Both the certificate program there and Vincennes University train inside that same market.
A Short-Term Certificate Option in Fort Wayne
The Fort Wayne campus also offers a short-term certificate in general aviation maintenance, a single-semester option for students who don't want the full Associate of Applied Science right away.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Indiana
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 Indiana 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 Indiana
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 Indiana?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Indiana Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Indiana?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Indiana?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Indiana?
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.