Indianapolis at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Indianapolis
6
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
65.7
AIM Indianapolis
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Indianapolis Metro
840
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$63,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.86
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 26900).
Rolls-Royce builds and tests military aircraft engines at its Indianapolis campus. FedEx Express also performs heavy maintenance checks on its aircraft at its Indianapolis hub, work it moved here from LAX. Local aircraft mechanics earn a median $63,280 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median.
Two options sit within ten miles of downtown. Aviation Institute of Maintenance Indianapolis, 7.7 miles away, offers on-site FAA testing alongside its certificate and degree tracks. Vincennes University's aviation program, 8.8 miles out, trains students inside Indianapolis International Airport with a strict cap on class size. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, in Harrison, Ohio, is 81.1 miles away.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Indianapolis
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Indianapolis, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Indianapolis
Best Outcomes Near Indianapolis
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Indianapolis
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 65.7 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 50%.
Indianapolis Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Indianapolis
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Indianapolis, ordered by score. 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 Indianapolis.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Indianapolis
- Best Outcomes Near Indianapolis
#1
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana 8 miles from Indianapolis #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
Vincennes University
Indianapolis, Indiana 9 miles from Indianapolis #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
-
#3
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Harrison, Ohio 81 miles from Indianapolis #95 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program fits Cincinnati-area students who want an associate degree with co-op ties to regional and national carriers, plus transfer pathways into four-year aviation and engineering programs.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 6 semesters (104 total credits)
-
#4
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana 61 miles from Indianapolis #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 | Vincennes University | 47.3 | 15 | † | 8 | 5 | 6.8 |
| 3 | Cincinnati State | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 4 | Purdue University | 31.7 | † | † | 0 | 0 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Indianapolis
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 Indiana ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Indianapolis
Aircraft mechanics in the Indianapolis metro area earn a median of $63,280 a year ($30.42 an hour), $120 below the Indiana median of $63,400.
Indianapolis Pay vs. Indiana and U.S. Medians
The Indianapolis median is $16,590 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Avionics Technician Pay in Indianapolis
BLS counts 40 avionics technicians in the Indianapolis metro area, with a median of $77,240 a year.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Indiana aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Indianapolis
BLS counts 840 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Indianapolis metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.86.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Manufacturer
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce defense engine manufacturing and testing campus, Indianapolis, IN
Rolls-Royce builds and tests military aircraft engines, including for the C-130J and V-22 Osprey, at its Indianapolis campus.
Approximately 3,500 employees at the Indianapolis campus
Source: Rolls-Royce Completes $1B Indiana Investment (Hoodline) (hoodline.com)
Air Cargo
FedEx Express
FedEx aircraft maintenance hangars at Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
FedEx performs heavy maintenance checks and deep inspections on aircraft at its Indianapolis hub, and moved heavy maintenance work there from LAX.
Source: FedEx to transfer LAX airport maintenance to Indianapolis (FreightWaves) (freightwaves.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Indianapolis International (IND) recorded 5,181,947 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis International | IND | Medium hub | 5,181,947 | 4,489,767,935 |
Local Context
A Cargo Carrier Moved Its Heavy Maintenance Here
FedEx Express performs heavy maintenance checks and deep inspections on its aircraft at its Indianapolis hub, work the carrier moved to Indianapolis International Airport from LAX. Indianapolis International itself landed 4,489,767,935 pounds of cargo in 2024, a volume that keeps freight aircraft moving through the metro.
A Defense Engine Builder Down the Road
Rolls-Royce builds and tests military aircraft engines at its Indianapolis campus. That defense manufacturing work sits alongside the airline and cargo maintenance already happening at Indianapolis International Airport.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Indianapolis: Common Questions
What Schools Near Indianapolis Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Indianapolis?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Indianapolis?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Indianapolis?
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)
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Avionics Technicians (49-2091)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Rolls-Royce: Rolls-Royce Completes $1B Indiana Investment (Hoodline)
- FedEx Express: FedEx to transfer LAX airport maintenance to Indianapolis (FreightWaves)
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.