Montana School Rankings, 2026

Best Aviation Maintenance Schools in Montana (2026)

We scored the 1 FAA-approved (Part 147) aircraft mechanic school in Montana on graduation rate, cost, program depth, access, and size, and ranked it. Helena College University of Montana ranks first with 39.8 out of 100.

Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Edited by , Founder & Editor

Last updated

IdahoWyoming
  • School in Montana

Schools shown on the Montana map

  • Helena College University of Montana (Helena)

Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Montana

Aviation Maintenance Schools in Montana

1

FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026

Ranked in This State

1

Methodology 2.1

Top Score in the State

39.8

Helena College

Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay

$64,170

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Aircraft Mechanics Employed

310

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Montana's only FAA Part 147 school, Helena College University of Montana, is also its only path to an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license, and the field is projected to grow 5.1% through 2034, above the national rate of 4%.

Helena College University of Montana, a public school, teaches its Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license over five semesters, charging a per-semester program fee on top of standard tuition.

Aircraft mechanics in Montana earn a median of $64,170 a year, well below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 45th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is still projected at 5.1% through 2034, adding 20 positions, with about 30 openings expected each year.

Montana Ranking

Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Montana

The ranked school in Montana, with the facts behind its score. 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)

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Montana

BLS reports a median annual wage of $64,170 ($30.85 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Montana, where 310 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 45th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.

Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 410 in 2024 to 430 in 2034 (+5.1%), with about 30 openings a year.

Statewide Aircraft Mechanic Pay Range $64,170median/yr ($30.85/hr)
$47,100 $97,200
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 49-3011)

Avionics Technician Pay in Montana

Avionics Technicians, Montana $57,420median/yr ($27.61/hr)
$39,550 $72,850
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 49-2091)

See the full Montana aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area

Local Context

One School Covers All of Montana's Aviation Maintenance Training

Helena College University of Montana is the only FAA Part 147 school in a state that stretches over vast distances, meaning students anywhere in Montana looking for in-state training have exactly one option, in Helena.

That single program leads to a full Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license over five semesters, at a public school charging a per-semester program fee rather than a large lump-sum tuition bill.

Public Tuition Instead of a Large Upfront Cost

Helena College University of Montana charges its aviation maintenance students a per-semester program fee on top of standard public tuition, rather than one large program-wide cost. That structure spreads the expense out over the full five semesters instead of billing it all at once.

Methodology

How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Montana

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 Montana 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 Montana

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 Montana?
Montana has 1 FAA Part 147 school, Helena College University of Montana, in Helena.

What Credential Does Montana's Aviation Maintenance Program Lead To?
Helena College University of Montana leads to a full Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license, completed over five semesters.

How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Montana Compare to the National Median?
Aircraft mechanics in Montana earn a median of $64,170 a year, well below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 45th among 50 states for that pay.

What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Montana?
Montana projects 5.1% growth in aircraft mechanic jobs through 2034, above the national rate of 4%, with about 30 openings a year.

How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Montana?
Helena College University of Montana completes its Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic license over five semesters, the only Part 147 program in the state.

Sources

All sources retrieved .

How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.