Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Michigan
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Michigan
6
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
6
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
51.6
UTI Canton
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$74,900
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
3,380
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Michigan's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at just 0.5% through 2034, well below the national rate of 4%, even though the state runs 6 FAA Part 147 schools.
Western Michigan University in Battle Creek offers a Bachelor of Science, while Andrews University in Berrien Springs teaches a four-semester certificate covering both ratings. Universal Technical Institute in Canton and Lansing Community College in Mason each run a two-year track, and School of Missionary Aviation Technology in Ionia and Legacy Aviation Learning Center in Traverse City both complete the A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) certificate within a year.
Aircraft mechanics in Michigan earn a median of $74,900 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 34th among 50 states for that pay.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Michigan
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Michigan, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Michigan
Best Outcomes in Michigan
Universal Technical Institute Canton
Highest overall score of the 6 ranked schools, 51.6 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 64%.
Most Affordable in Michigan
Lowest comparable program cost of the 4 ranked schools with one: $14,400, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Michigan Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Michigan
The 6 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Michigan, 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 Michigan
- Best Outcomes in Michigan
#1
Universal Technical Institute Canton
Canton, Michigan #57 nationally
51.6 of 100
This program fits students who want a no-experience-required path into combined airframe and powerplant training at one of three Universal Technical Institute campuses, near two Detroit-area airports.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate; Associate of Applied Science (AAS) available
- Length
- 24 months or less
-
#2
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan #122 nationally
42.0 of 100
This program fits students who want a two-year, four-semester path to both airframe and powerplant ratings at a university that also offers a bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance, without requiring an FAA medical certificate.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- FAA Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technician Certificate (Airframe & Powerplant)
- Length
- four semesters (two school years) for both ratings
- Cost
- $25,480, total program (non-credit certificate rate)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Fall semester for freshmen; flexible for community/certificate students
-
#3
Western Michigan University
Battle Creek, Michigan #157 nationally
39.7 of 100
This program fits students who want a bachelor's degree pairing FAA airframe and powerplant coursework with broader aviation technical operations training at a university campus in Battle Creek, Michigan.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Bachelor of Science
-
- Most Affordable in Michigan
#4
Lansing Community College
Mason, Michigan #181 nationally
35.1 of 100
This program fits Michigan students who want a 24-month path to full AMT certification with an established Delta Air Lines partnership, training just south of Lansing in Mason.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Airframe Maintenance Technology AAS/CA; Powerplant Maintenance Technology AAS/CA; plus 1 more
- Length
- 24 months for full AMT certification
- Starts
- Next Cohort Begins August 26, 2027
-
#5
School of Missionary Aviation Technology
Ionia, Michigan #199 nationally
30.2 of 100
The School of Missionary Aviation Technology fits students seeking a faith-based, 12-month aviation maintenance program with a hands-on, lab-heavy schedule at Ionia County Airport in Michigan.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA Part 147 approved A&P certification
- Length
- 12 months
- Cost
- $32,000, total program
-
#6
Legacy Aviation Learning Center
Traverse City, Michigan #204 nationally
20.1 of 100
This program fits students who want a fast, 12-month nonprofit path to the FAA mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, in northern Michigan, at a school enrolling about 50 students a year.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification
- Length
- 12 months
- Cost
- $42,350, total program
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UTI Canton | 51.6 | 27.1 | † | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Andrews University | 42.0 | † | 4.8 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 3 | WMU | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
| 4 | Lansing Community College | 35.1 | 2.1 | 8.6 | 14 | 5 | 5.4 |
| 5 | SMAT | 30.2 | † | 3 | 8 | 0 | † |
| 6 | Legacy Aviation Learning Center | 20.1 | † | 0.9 | 0 | 0 | † |
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the Michigan Border
2 FAA-approved schools in neighboring states within 100 miles of Detroit, nearest first.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Michigan 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 Detroit | 4 | UTI Canton | $75,940 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Grand Rapids | 4 | Andrews University | $75,550 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Michigan
BLS reports a median annual wage of $74,900 ($36.01 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Michigan, where 3,380 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 34th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 2,900 in 2024 to 2,910 in 2034 (+0.5%), with about 220 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Michigan
See the full Michigan aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Flat Job Growth Despite Six Training Options
The projection adds only about 10 aircraft mechanic jobs statewide over the decade, so most of the roughly 220 openings expected each year will come from mechanics retiring or leaving the field rather than from new positions.
Detroit's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $75,940 a year, close to the $74,900 statewide figure, in a metro of 4,400,578 people. Grand Rapids, with 1,178,826 people, reports a similar median of $75,550.
Twelve-Month Certification Options in Michigan
The Ionia and Traverse City programs both compress full aircraft mechanic certification into about a year, faster than the two-year tracks at Lansing Community College and Universal Technical Institute in Canton.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Michigan
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 Michigan 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 Michigan
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 Michigan?
Which Michigan Schools Offer the Fastest Aircraft Mechanic Certification?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Michigan Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Michigan?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Michigan?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Michigan?
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.