Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Iowa
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Iowa
5
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
4
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
61.7
Iowa Western Community College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$69,890
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
330
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Iowa's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at 8% through 2034, double the national rate of 4%.
Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa accepts GI Bill benefits for its combined Airframe and Powerplant track, split across a four-day class week. Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids both run two-year AAS programs, while Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs offers full-time, part-time, online, and evening options for the same credential.
Aircraft mechanics in Iowa earn a median of $69,890 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 41st among 50 states for that pay. Growth is still projected at 8% through 2034, adding about 30 positions in the decade.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Iowa
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Iowa, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Iowa
Iowa Western Community College
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 61.7 out of 100.
Iowa Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Iowa
The 4 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Iowa, 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 Iowa
#1
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa #24 nationally
61.7 of 100
This program fits students near Omaha who want a public Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree with flexible full-time, part-time, online, and evening scheduling.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.); Aviation Maintenance Tech: Airframe Certificate; plus 1 more
- Length
- 85.5 total semester hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Full-time, part-time, online, and evening options available
- Starts
- Fall; Spring; Summer
-
#2
Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa, Iowa #46 nationally
55.3 of 100
This program fits Iowa veterans and civilians who want a GI Bill-eligible, 21-month Aviation Maintenance Technology program with an optional avionics add-on near Ottumwa.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.); Diploma I (Airframe); plus 2 more
- Length
- 21 months / 7 terms
- Cost
- $18,477, total program
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Fall entry term only
- Avionics
- Option to dual enroll in the Avionics Electronic Technician diploma
-
#3
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa #118 nationally
42.7 of 100
This program fits eastern Iowa students who want a two-year associate degree or certificate at a newly FAA-approved program combining Kirkwood classroom time with hands-on hangar work at the Eastern Iowa Airport.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS); Certificate
- Length
- two-year
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#4
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, Iowa #169 nationally
37.7 of 100
This program fits northwest Iowa students who want a two-year AAS or shorter diploma in aircraft maintenance without traveling far, since no other Part 147 school sits within 85 miles.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science; Aviation Airframe Maintenance Technician Diploma
- Length
- two-year
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa Western Community College | 61.7 | 16.2 | † | 14 | 15 | 4 |
| 2 | Indian Hills Community College | 55.3 | 16.2 | 6.3 | 20 | 10 | 2.8 |
| 3 | Kirkwood Community College | 42.7 | † | † | 6 | 5 | † |
| 4 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | 37.7 | † | † | 6 | 0 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs in Iowa
This FAA-approved program is run by a high school or career center, so it is listed apart from the college rankings.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Iowa 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 Des Moines | 2 | Iowa Western Community College | $59,100 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Iowa
BLS reports a median annual wage of $69,890 ($33.60 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Iowa, where 330 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 41st of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 390 in 2024 to 420 in 2034 (+8%), with about 30 openings a year.
See the full Iowa aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Online and Evening Options Set Iowa Apart
Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs teaches its Airframe and Powerplant program through full-time, part-time, online, and evening formats.
Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa takes a different approach, packing its combined Airframe and Powerplant track into a four-day class week and accepting GI Bill benefits along the way. Students in Iowa can choose the format that fits their schedule rather than one standard path.
A High School Route Into Aviation Maintenance in Des Moines
Des Moines Public Schools Central Campus offers an aviation maintenance program at the high school level, giving Des Moines students exposure to the field before they'd enroll at a community college.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Iowa
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 Iowa 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 Iowa
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 Iowa?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Iowa Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Iowa?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Iowa?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Iowa?
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.