Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in North Dakota
Aviation Maintenance Schools in North Dakota
1
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
1
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
37.7
NDSCS
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$77,740
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
200
BLS OEWS, May 2025
North Dakota's only FAA Part 147 school, North Dakota State College of Science, has no IPEDS-tracked counterpart anywhere else in the state, and the field is projected to grow 7.5% through 2034, well above the national rate of 4%.
North Dakota State College of Science, in Fargo, teaches face-to-face toward an Associate in Applied Science, combining core aviation coursework with general education credits.
Aircraft mechanics in North Dakota earn a median of $77,740 a year, just below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 26th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 7.5% through 2034, with about 20 openings a year.
North Dakota Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in North Dakota
The ranked school in North Dakota, 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)
-
#1
North Dakota State College of Science
Fargo, North Dakota #167 nationally
37.7 of 100
This program suits students in North Dakota who want the state's only FAA Part 147 school, an Associate in Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology that relaunched at the Fargo campus after being suspended.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science
- Length
- 79 total credits (64 core + 15 general education)
Across the State Line
Top-Ranked Schools Near North Dakota
1 FAA-approved school in neighboring states within 100 miles of Fargo, ranked by score.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
#1
Northland Community and Technical College
Thief River Falls, Minnesota 89 miles from Fargo #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
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in North Dakota
BLS reports a median annual wage of $77,740 ($37.38 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in North Dakota, where 200 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 26th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 190 in 2024 to 200 in 2034 (+7.5%), with about 20 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in North Dakota
See the full North Dakota aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
A Minnesota Option Beyond North Dakota's One School
North Dakota State College of Science in Fargo is North Dakota's only FAA Part 147 school, taught entirely face-to-face rather than online.
Northland Community and Technical College, across the border in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, sits 88.5 miles away, giving students on that side of the state another option beyond North Dakota's single school.
One Credential Path, No Online Option
North Dakota State College of Science teaches its Associate in Applied Science entirely face-to-face at its Fargo campus, without an online or hybrid track. Students who need a remote option would have to look outside the state.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in North Dakota
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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota
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 North Dakota?
Can You Study Aircraft Maintenance Online in North Dakota?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in North Dakota Compare to the National Median?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in North Dakota?
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.