Providence at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Providence
8
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
51.3
Nashua Community College
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Providence Metro
130
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$70,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.20
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 39300).
The Rhode Island Air National Guard's airlift wing flies C-130J Hercules aircraft out of Quonset State Airport, and its Maintenance Group keeps that fleet in the air. Aircraft mechanic employment across the Providence metro runs at 0.2 times the national concentration. Mechanics here earn a median $70,720, below the $79,870 national median.
Cape Cod Community College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program at Plymouth Municipal Airport is the closest option at 40.7 miles. National Aviation Academy's New England campus in Concord, Massachusetts follows at 44.2 miles, and Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover adds a high school pathway 61.1 miles out.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Providence
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Providence, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Providence
Most Affordable Near Providence
Best Outcomes Near Providence
Highest overall score of the 5 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%.
Providence Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Providence
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Providence, ordered by score. High school programs within 100 miles follow the ranking. 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 Providence.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Providence
- Most Affordable Near Providence
- Best Outcomes Near Providence
#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
Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians
Stratford, Connecticut 99 miles from Providence #109 nationally
44.7 of 100
This program fits Connecticut students who want a two-year airframe-and-powerplant certificate through a public extension campus based at Sikorsky Memorial Airport.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Certificate (Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, upon passing FAA exams)
- Length
- 2 years
- Starts
- December 2026 enrollment class applications open
-
#5
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 | Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians | 44.7 | † | † | 8 | 5 | † |
| 5 | Cape Cod Community College | 29.7 | 1.1 | 6.5 | 14 | 5 | 3.1 |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Providence
These 3 FAA-approved programs are run by a high school or career center, so they are listed apart from the college ranking, nearest first.
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Rhode Island ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Providence
Aircraft mechanics in the Providence metro area earn a median of $70,720 a year ($34.00 an hour), the same as the Rhode Island median.
Providence Pay vs. Rhode Island and U.S. Medians
The Providence median is $9,150 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Rhode Island aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Providence
BLS counts 130 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Providence metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.20.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
143rd Airlift Wing (Rhode Island Air National Guard)
143rd Maintenance Group, Quonset State Airport (Quonset Air National Guard Base), North Kingstown, RI
The Rhode Island Air National Guard's 143rd Airlift Wing operates C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft at Quonset State Airport and maintains a dedicated Maintenance Group for its fleet.
Source: 143rd Airlift Wing (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Rhode Island Tf Green International (PVD) recorded 1,984,916 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 | All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Tf Green International | PVD | Small hub | 1,984,916 | 110,663,500 |
| Martha's Vineyard | MVY | Nonhub | 83,419 | |
| Westerly State | WST | Nonhub | 12,320 |
Local Context
C-130Js and the Air Guard Maintenance Group at Quonset
The Rhode Island Air National Guard's airlift wing operates C-130J Hercules aircraft from Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown. Its Maintenance Group handles upkeep on that fleet, work that sits apart from the metro's small civilian airport traffic.
T.F. Green and the Region's Smaller Airports
Rhode Island T.F. Green International, a small-hub airport, handled 1,984,916 enplanements in 2024 and landed 110,663,500 pounds of cargo. Martha's Vineyard Airport added 83,419 enplanements, and Westerly State added 12,320.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Providence: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Providence?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Providence?
Who Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Providence?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work in Providence?
Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
More Metro Guides
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings in Other Metro Areas
Sources for School and Pay Data
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (49-3011)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- 143rd Airlift Wing (Rhode Island Air National Guard): 143rd Airlift Wing (Wikipedia)
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.