Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Ohio
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Ohio
11
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
5
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
48.6
Sinclair Community College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$80,570
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
2,840
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Ohio runs 11 FAA Part 147 schools, one of the largest counts of any state, and Cincinnati's aircraft mechanics work at a location quotient of 1.4, above the national concentration for the occupation.
Federal Aerospace Institute in Swanton accepts GI Bill benefits for its twelve-month certificate, while Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics' Youngstown Campus, in Vienna, and Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development in Wilmington round out training for adults. Several aviation maintenance schools in Ohio work at the high school level too; the career-tech centers are listed below.
Aircraft mechanics in Ohio earn a median of $80,570 a year, above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 21st among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at 5.4% through 2034, adding 180 positions, with about 280 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Ohio
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Ohio, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Ohio
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 48.6 out of 100.
Ohio Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Ohio
The 5 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Ohio, 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 Ohio
#1
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, Ohio #78 nationally
48.6 of 100
Sinclair Community College fits students who want a public associate degree with embedded airframe and powerplant certificates and a path toward a bachelor's degree, in Dayton, Ohio.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 89 credit hours
-
#2
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Harrison, Ohio #95 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program fits Cincinnati-area students who want an associate degree with co-op ties to regional and national carriers, plus transfer pathways into four-year aviation and engineering programs.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Length
- 6 semesters (104 total credits)
-
#3
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Youngstown Campus
Vienna, Ohio #140 nationally
40.8 of 100
This program suits students who want a 16-month diploma covering both airframe and powerplant ratings with hands-on shop training at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma
- Length
- 16 months, diploma/certificate (4 semesters, 65 credits for students starting after July 1, 2026)
- Cost
- $31,200, total program for students starting after July 1, 2026 (4 semesters, 65 credits)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Fall 2026 (Sept. 1); Spring 2027 (Jan. 5); Summer 2027 (May 4)
-
#4
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, Ohio #146 nationally
39.7 of 100
Columbus State Community College fits students who want hands-on training with access to Bolton Field and the option to earn standalone Airframe or Powerplant certificates instead of the full credential.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance Technician Certificate (FAA, 14 CFR Part 65)
-
#5
Federal Aerospace Institute
Swanton, Ohio #172 nationally
36.7 of 100
This program fits students in northwest Ohio who want a 12-month path to an FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate, with GI Bill funding and small class sizes at Toledo Express Airport.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA Certificated Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Aircraft Maintenance Technician
- Length
- 12 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinclair Community College | 48.6 | 17 | † | 14 | 0 | 5.1 |
| 2 | Cincinnati State | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 3 | PIA Youngstown | 40.8 | † | 3.6 | 8 | 10 | † |
| 4 | Columbus State Community College | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
| 5 | Federal Aerospace Institute | 36.7 | † | † | 0 | 5 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs in Ohio
These 6 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college rankings.
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the Ohio Border
1 FAA-approved school in neighboring states within 100 miles of Cincinnati, nearest first.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Ohio Metro Area
Each metro ranking scores every school within commuting range and adds the local airports, employers, and BLS pay for aircraft mechanics.
| Top-Ranked School | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation maintenance schools near Cincinnati | 8 | Sinclair Community College | $85,410 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Columbus | 6 | Sinclair Community College | $74,210 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Cleveland | 2 | UTI Canton | $80,570 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Dayton | 8 | Sinclair Community College | $77,580 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Akron | 3 | PIA Pittsburgh | $75,800 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Toledo | 6 | UTI Canton | $79,830 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Ohio
BLS reports a median annual wage of $80,570 ($38.74 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Ohio, where 2,840 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 21st of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 3,420 in 2024 to 3,610 in 2034 (+5.4%), with about 280 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Ohio
See the full Ohio aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Three High School Programs Feed Ohio's Pipeline
Butler Tech in Middletown, Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo in Swanton, and Greene County Career Center in Xenia all teach aircraft maintenance coursework to high school students, well before they'd normally start at a two-year college.
That's 3 of Ohio's 11 schools built around teenagers rather than adult students.
Two Schools Share One Small Town in Swanton
Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo and Federal Aerospace Institute both operate out of Swanton, one serving high school students and the other adults working toward the FAA mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P, on a twelve-month track with GI Bill benefits.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Ohio
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 Ohio 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 Ohio
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 Ohio?
Which Ohio School Accepts GI Bill Benefits?
Do Ohio High Schools Offer Aircraft Maintenance Training?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Ohio Compare to the National Median?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Ohio?
How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in Ohio?
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.