Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Rhode Island
In-State FAA-Approved Schools
0
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked Schools Near Rhode Island
4
Within 100 mi of Providence
Top Score Nearby
51.3
Nashua Community College
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$70,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
120
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Rhode Island has no in-state FAA Part 147 school, and the closest option, Cape Cod Community College in Plymouth, Massachusetts, sits 40.7 miles away.
Five more schools fall within about 72 miles of Rhode Island: National Aviation Academy's New England Campus, Greater Lawrence Technical School, and Westfield Technical Academy in Massachusetts, plus Connecticut Aero Tech School in Hartford and Nashua Community College in New Hampshire.
Aircraft mechanics in Rhode Island earn a median of $70,720 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 39th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is still projected at 10% through 2034, well above the national rate of 4%, adding about 10 positions.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Rhode Island
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Rhode Island, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick Near Rhode Island
Most Affordable Near Rhode Island
Best Outcomes Near Rhode Island
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 51.3 out of 100.
Lowest comparable program cost of the 2 ranked schools with one: $11,288, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 38%.
Rhode Island Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools Near Rhode Island
The ranked aviation maintenance schools near Rhode Island, within 100 miles of Providence, ordered by score. Miles are straight-line distances. 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 Near Rhode Island
- Most Affordable Near Rhode Island
- Best Outcomes Near Rhode Island
#1
Nashua Community College
Nashua, New Hampshire 67 miles from Providence #60 nationally
51.3 of 100
This program suits students in New Hampshire and nearby New England who want the region's only FAA Part 147 school, offering a public 21-month associate degree or a five-semester certificate covering both airframe and powerplant ratings.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Science in Aviation Technology; Aviation Technology Certificate
- Length
- 21-month curriculum includes one summer session (AS degree)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day (AS degree); day or evening (certificate, Tuesday-Thursday evenings and every other Saturday)
-
#2
National Aviation Academy, New England Campus
Concord, Massachusetts 44 miles from Providence #98 nationally
45.7 of 100
This program suits students in the Boston area who want a 14-month path to FAA Airframe and Powerplant certification, with a shorter optional Advanced Aircraft Systems avionics add-on at National Aviation Academy's New England campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification
- Length
- AMT: 14 months, 3000 clock hours (implied by 45 FAA-mandated subjects)
- Avionics
- Advanced Aircraft Systems program (avionics equipment)
-
#3
Connecticut Aero Tech School
Hartford, Connecticut 64 miles from Providence #106 nationally
44.7 of 100
Connecticut Aero Tech School fits day-schedule students working toward becoming an aircraft mechanic over two years at an extension campus based at Brainard Airport.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Certificate (Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, upon passing FAA exams)
- Length
- 2 years
- Starts
- December 2026 enrollment class applications open
-
#4
Cape Cod Community College
Plymouth, Massachusetts 41 miles from Providence #200 nationally
29.7 of 100
This associate degree program fits someone on Cape Cod who wants FAA-focused training with a foundation for transferring into a four-year program afterward.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Applied Science; Airframe (AMT) Certificate; plus 1 more
- Length
- 2 years
- Cost
- $18,340, total program tuition and mandatory college fees, Massachusetts resident, 2026-2027 catalog (70 credits x $262 a credit hour)
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashua Community College | 51.3 | 14.1 | 10.4 | 14 | 10 | 2.8 |
| 2 | NAA New England | 45.7 | † | † | 14 | 0 | † |
| 3 | CT Aero Tech | 44.7 | † | † | 8 | 5 | † |
| 4 | Cape Cod Community College | 29.7 | 1.1 | 6.5 | 14 | 5 | 3.1 |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Rhode Island
These 2 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college rankings.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Rhode Island 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 Providence | 8 | Nashua Community College | $70,720 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Rhode Island
BLS reports a median annual wage of $70,720 ($34.00 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Rhode Island, where 120 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 39th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 100 in 2024 to 110 in 2034 (+10%), with about 10 openings a year.
See the full Rhode Island aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Six Nearby Schools Fill Rhode Island's Gap
Rhode Island itself has no FAA Part 147 school, but Cape Cod Community College, 40.7 miles away, and National Aviation Academy's New England Campus, 44.2 miles away, are both close across the Massachusetts border.
Greater Lawrence Technical School, Connecticut Aero Tech School, Nashua Community College, and Westfield Technical Academy round out six options within about 72 miles, spread across three neighboring states.
Providence's Pay Sets Rhode Island's Statewide Figure
Providence, with 1,700,901 people, is Rhode Island's only metro in this data, and its aircraft mechanic median, $70,720 a year, matches the statewide figure exactly. There's no second market to compare it against inside the state.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Rhode Island
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 near Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
What Is the Nearest Aircraft Maintenance School to Rhode Island?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Rhode Island Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Rhode Island?
How Far Are the Nearest Aviation Maintenance Schools From Rhode Island?
Does Rhode Island Require Its Own Aircraft Mechanic License?
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.