Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Minnesota
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Minnesota
4
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
4
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
52.3
Northland Community and Technical College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$81,980
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
2,390
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Public community and technical colleges handle Minnesota's aircraft maintenance training, and the field is projected to grow 4.3% through 2034, above the national rate of 4%.
Lake Superior College in Duluth and Minneapolis College both lead to an Associate of Applied Science, with Minneapolis College also offering a shorter diploma across six continuous semesters, including summer terms. St. Cloud Technical & Community College and Northland Community and Technical College, in Thief River Falls, round out the state's 4 schools with their own AAS and diploma tracks.
Aircraft mechanics in Minnesota earn a median of $81,980 a year, above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 18th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 4.3% through 2034, adding 100 positions, with about 180 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Minnesota
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Minnesota, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Minnesota
Best Outcomes in Minnesota
Northland Community and Technical College
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 52.3 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 3 ranked schools that report one: 56%.
Most Affordable in Minnesota
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $9,992, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Minnesota Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Minnesota
The 4 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota
- Best Outcomes in Minnesota
#1
Northland Community and Technical College
Thief River Falls, Minnesota #56 nationally
52.3 of 100
This program suits a student in northern Minnesota who wants an A.A.S. or diploma in aviation maintenance and would rather train close to home, since the nearest other Part 147 school sits 88.5 miles from Thief River Falls.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- A.A.S.; Diploma
- Length
- 94 credit hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
- Most Affordable in Minnesota
#2
Lake Superior College
Duluth, Minnesota #81 nationally
48.4 of 100
This program fits Minnesota students who want a two-year associate degree with airline industry partnerships, training airframe and powerplant ratings full-time on Lake Superior's Duluth campus.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 2 years
- Cost
- $5,931, average annual tuition and fees, 2025-26
-
#3
St. Cloud Technical & Community College
St. Cloud, Minnesota #102 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program fits central Minnesota students who want a combined airframe-and-powerplant credential with a choice between a diploma and an associate degree.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAS; Diploma
-
#4
Minneapolis College
Minneapolis, Minnesota #197 nationally
31.1 of 100
This program fits students near Minneapolis-St. Paul who want a public two-year path to combined airframe and powerplant ratings, training inside Delta Air Lines' own maintenance facility on a capped 25-student annual cohort.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- A.A.S. Degree (83 credits); Diploma (68 credits)
- Length
- 6 continuous semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer cycle)
- Cost
- $254.95, per credit
- Starts
- one cohort of 25 new students per year, Fall semester
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northland Community and Technical College | 52.3 | 25.2 | † | 6 | 5 | 3.6 |
| 2 | Lake Superior College | 48.4 | 18.2 | 12.8 | 14 | 0 | 3.4 |
| 3 | St. Cloud Technical & Community College | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 4 | Minneapolis College | 31.1 | 0.6 | 7.1 | 14 | 5 | 4.4 |
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Minnesota 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul | 2 | Lake Superior College | $90,050 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Minnesota
BLS reports a median annual wage of $81,980 ($39.41 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Minnesota, where 2,390 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 18th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 2,260 in 2024 to 2,360 in 2034 (+4.3%), with about 180 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Minnesota
See the full Minnesota aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Minneapolis-St. Paul's Pay Edge Over the Rest of Minnesota
Minneapolis-St. Paul's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $90,050 a year, well above the $81,980 statewide figure, in a metro of 3,757,952 people. Minneapolis College trains directly inside that market.
Lake Superior College in Duluth, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, and Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls serve the rest of the state instead, spread across northern and central Minnesota away from the Twin Cities' pay premium.
A Year-Round Schedule at Minneapolis College
Minneapolis College runs its Associate of Applied Science across six continuous semesters, including summer, rather than pausing for a break each year. That structure can shorten the calendar time to finish compared with a school that only runs fall and spring terms.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Minnesota
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota
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 Minnesota?
Which Minnesota School Runs Through the Summer?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Minnesota Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Minnesota?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Minnesota?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Minnesota?
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.