South Dakota School Rankings, 2026

Best Aviation Maintenance Schools in South Dakota (2026)

We scored the 1 FAA-approved (Part 147) aircraft mechanic school in South Dakota on graduation rate, cost, program depth, access, and size, and ranked it. Lake Area Technical College ranks first with 61.8 out of 100.

Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Edited by , Founder & Editor

Last updated

Nebraska
  • School in South Dakota
  • School in a neighboring state

Schools shown on the South Dakota map

  • Lake Area Technical College (Watertown)
  • Western Iowa Tech Community College (Sioux City, Iowa)

Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in South Dakota

Aviation Maintenance Schools in South Dakota

1

FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026

Ranked in This State

1

Methodology 2.1

Top Score in the State

61.8

Lake Area Technical College

Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay

$75,750

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Aircraft Mechanics Employed

150

BLS OEWS, May 2025

Lake Area Technical College in Watertown is South Dakota's only FAA Part 147 school, and it accepts GI Bill benefits for a Diploma or Associate of Applied Science that runs on an August-through-May academic calendar.

The program spans about 18 months across two academic years, following a school-year calendar rather than year-round enrollment.

Aircraft mechanics in South Dakota earn a median of $75,750 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 30th among 50 states for that pay.

South Dakota Ranking

Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in South Dakota

The ranked school in South 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. #1

    Lake Area Technical College

    Watertown, South Dakota #22 nationally

    61.8 of 100

    This program fits South Dakota students who want the state's only FAA-certificated Part 147 school, training airframe and powerplant ratings over about 18 months with GI Bill eligibility.

    Type
    Community College
    Credentials
    Diploma/AAS
    Length
    approximately 18 months, spanning two academic years from August through May
    Cost
    $29,552, total estimated program cost, 2026
    GI Bill
    Approved
    Starts
    August

BLS Wage Data

Aircraft Mechanic Salary in South Dakota

BLS reports a median annual wage of $75,750 ($36.42 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in South Dakota, where 150 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 30th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.

Statewide Aircraft Mechanic Pay Range $75,750median/yr ($36.42/hr)
$51,160 $89,360
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 49-3011)

Avionics Technician Pay in South Dakota

Avionics Technicians, South Dakota $83,220median/yr ($40.01/hr)
$61,510 $90,810
Box shows the 25th to 75th percentile. Line spans the 10th to 90th percentile. BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 49-2091)

See the full South Dakota aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area

Local Context

A School-Year Calendar Instead of Year-Round Enrollment

Lake Area Technical College in Watertown runs its aviation maintenance program on an August-through-May academic calendar, closer to a traditional school year than the rolling or year-round starts some other states' schools use.

That structure spans about 18 months across two academic years, and the program accepts GI Bill benefits along the way, in a state with just this one FAA Part 147 school.

Diploma or Degree From the Same Watertown Program

Lake Area Technical College offers both a Diploma and an Associate of Applied Science from the same aviation maintenance program, giving students a choice of credential without switching schools.

Methodology

How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in South 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 South 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 South 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has 1 FAA Part 147 school, Lake Area Technical College in Watertown.

Does Lake Area Technical College Accept GI Bill Benefits?
Yes. Lake Area Technical College accepts GI Bill benefits for its Diploma or Associate of Applied Science.

How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in South Dakota?
Lake Area Technical College's program in Watertown, South Dakota's only FAA Part 147 school, runs about 18 months across two academic years, from August through May, leading to a Diploma or Associate of Applied Science.

How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in South Dakota Compare to the National Median?
Aircraft mechanics in South Dakota earn a median of $75,750 a year, below the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 30th among 50 states for that pay.

How Much Does Aviation Maintenance School Cost in South Dakota?
Lake Area Technical College estimates its total 2026 program cost at $29,552, covering tuition ($9,514), fees ($10,318), department fees ($7,122), tools ($6,250), a uniform ($780), books ($1,200), a laptop ($1,190), and the FAA test fee ($300).

Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
It's federal. The FAA issues the A&P, the mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, under federal rules, so a credential earned at Lake Area Technical College works in every other state, not just South Dakota.

Sources

All sources retrieved .

How we source and check each listing is explained on our data methodology page.