Rochester School Rankings, 2026

Best Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Rochester, NY (2026)

This ranking orders the aviation maintenance schools near Rochester by score: graduation rate, cost, program depth, access, and size, adding the nearest ranked schools out to 198 miles. Johnson College ranks first with 50.7 out of 100.

New YorkPennsylvania 100 mi 111 mi138 mi159 mi Rochester
  • Rochester center
  • School, miles from center
  • 100-mile radius

Schools near Rochester, by straight-line distance

  • Mohawk Valley Community College (Rome): 111 miles
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology (Montoursville): 138 miles
  • Johnson College (Avoca): 159 miles

Rochester at a Glance

Nearest FAA-Approved School

111 mi

FAA, 2026

Top Score Nearby

50.7

Johnson College

Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Rochester Metro

90

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Metro Median Pay

$79,200

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Location Quotient

0.21

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Area covered: Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 40380).

Haven Aviation Services Group opened an aircraft maintenance facility at Greater Rochester International Airport, authorized to work on Falcon, Challenger, Citation, and other business jets. The airport itself is a small hub that handled 1,331,837 enplanements and landed 270,274,950 pounds of cargo in 2024. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $79,200 a year, close to the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.

The closest options are more than a hundred miles out. Mohawk Valley Community College in Rome, 111.3 miles away, offers an Airframe and Powerplant certificate alongside an associate degree in Mechanical Technology: Aircraft Maintenance. Pennsylvania College of Technology in Montoursville, 137.6 miles away, offers a bachelor's degree, and Johnson College in Avoca, 159.3 miles away, offers a two-year associate program.

Top Picks

Top Picks Near Rochester

Among the aviation maintenance schools near Rochester, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.

  • Top Pick Near Rochester

    Johnson College

    Avoca, Pennsylvania #1, score 50.7

    Highest overall score of the 3 ranked schools, 50.7 out of 100.

Rochester Ranking

Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Rochester

The ranked aviation maintenance schools closest to Rochester, ordered by score, plus the nearest ranked schools out to 198 miles so the list has at least 3. 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 Rochester.

Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)

    • Top Pick Near Rochester

    #1

    Johnson College

    Avoca, Pennsylvania 159 miles from Rochester #63 nationally

    50.7 of 100

    This program fits students near Allentown-Bethlehem who want a private, four-term Aviation Technology associate degree that targets FAA licensure exams within 60 days of graduation.

    Type
    Technical College
    Credentials
    Associate of Applied Science
    Length
    72 credits across four terms (approximately 2 years full-time)
    GI Bill
    Approved
  1. #2

    Pennsylvania College of Technology

    Montoursville, Pennsylvania 138 miles from Rochester #170 nationally

    37.5 of 100

    This program fits someone who wants a full four-year bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance, complete with hands-on time at an FAA Approved Repair Station, rather than a shorter certificate or associate track.

    Type
    University
    Credentials
    Bachelor of Science
    Length
    8 semesters, 50 courses, 131.5 credits
  2. #3

    Hudson Valley Community College

    Albany, New York 198 miles from Rochester #173 nationally

    36.7 of 100

    This program fits students near Albany, New York who want a 12-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certification, trained on Air Force jet aircraft donated to the school.

    Type
    Community College
    Credentials
    FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Certification
    Length
    12-month program with extensive hands-on instruction and training
    Starts
    Monday, Jan. 11 (January 2027 cohort); Monday, June 28 (June 2027 cohort)
Points by Factor: Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Rochester
RankSchoolScoreOutcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
1Johnson College50.7145
2Penn College37.524.80804.7
3Hudson Valley Community College36.705
Points by factor, methodology 2.1. † Peer median: the school has no figure for that factor, so it scores that factor's peer median (Outcomes 15, Cost 12.5, Scale its median among schools with an awards figure).

Mohawk Valley Community College is left out because the school says the program is closing to new students.

See the full best aviation maintenance schools in New York ranking.

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Rochester

Aircraft mechanics in the Rochester metro area earn a median of $79,200 a year ($38.08 an hour), $23,600 below the New York median of $102,800.

Aircraft Mechanic Salary, Rochester Metro $79,200median/yr ($38.08/hr)
$58,650 $98,200
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Rochester Pay vs. New York and U.S. Medians

The Rochester median is $670 below the U.S. median of $79,870.

Median Annual Aircraft Mechanic Wage
Rochester metro $79,200
United States $79,870

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Compare metro areas across the state on the New York aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.

Local Employers

Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Rochester

BLS counts 90 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Rochester metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.21.

A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.

  • Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul

    Haven Aviation Services Group (Haven MRO)

    Aircraft maintenance facility at Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International Airport

    Haven ASG opened an aircraft maintenance facility at Greater Rochester International Airport authorized for maintenance and repairs on Falcon, Challenger, Citation, and other business jets.

    Source: Texas-based Haven ASG Opens MRO in Rochester, New York - Aviation International News (ainonline.com)

Airports

Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area

Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International (ROC) recorded 1,331,837 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.

FAA Commercial Service and All-Cargo Airports, Rochester Area
AirportFAA IDHub ClassPassenger Boardings, 2024All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb)
Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester InternationalROCSmall hub1,331,837270,274,950
FAA CY2024 enplanement and all-cargo landed weight data.

Local Context

No FAA School Within 100 Miles of Rochester

The nearest FAA Part 147 school to Rochester is Mohawk Valley Community College in Rome, 111.3 miles away, with an Airframe and Powerplant certificate program that also leads to an associate degree in Mechanical Technology: Aircraft Maintenance.

Two more options sit even farther out: Pennsylvania College of Technology in Montoursville, 137.6 miles away, offering a bachelor's degree, and Johnson College in Avoca, 159.3 miles away, offering an associate degree. Rochester's own aircraft mechanic employment sits below the national average, with a location quotient of 0.21 for the occupation, and the nearest classroom is more than an hour and a half by car.

Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Rochester: Common Questions

What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Rochester?

What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Rochester?

Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Rochester?

How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Rochester?

Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Mechanic Certification?

More Metro Guides

Aviation Maintenance School Rankings in Other Metro Areas

New York

See the Best Aviation Maintenance Schools in New York

The New York ranking scores every FAA-approved school in the state, with top picks and pay.