Key Figures for Aviation Maintenance Schools in Virginia
Aviation Maintenance Schools in Virginia
4
FAA AV-Info, Sep 2026
Ranked in This State
4
Methodology 2.1
Top Score in the State
65.1
Liberty University
Median Aircraft Mechanic Pay
$82,200
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Aircraft Mechanics Employed
2,260
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Virginia's aircraft mechanic job growth is projected at just 1.7% through 2034, well below the national rate of 4%, even though the state's median pay, $82,200, already tops the $79,870 national figure.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance's Manassas and Norfolk campuses both accept GI Bill benefits for a certificate completed in just under two years, with day and evening classes. Liberty University in Lynchburg offers an Associate of Arts, and Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, a public school, splits its training into separate Airframe and Powerplant certificates alongside a full Associate of Applied Science.
Aircraft mechanics in Virginia earn a median of $82,200 a year, above the $79,870 national median, and the state ranks 16th among 50 states for that pay. Growth is projected at just 1.7% through 2034, adding 40 positions, with about 180 openings expected each year.
Top Picks
Top Picks in Virginia
Among the aviation maintenance schools in Virginia, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties and one-school lists produce none.
Top Pick in Virginia
Best Outcomes in Virginia
Highest overall score of the 4 ranked schools, 65.1 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 65%.
Virginia Ranking
Top-Ranked Aircraft Mechanic Schools in Virginia
The 4 ranked aviation maintenance schools in Virginia, 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 Virginia
- Best Outcomes in Virginia
#1
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia #15 nationally
65.1 of 100
This program fits students who want an associate degree combining airframe and powerplant training with credit for life and work experience, at a large private university in Lynchburg, Virginia.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Associate of Arts (AA)
- Length
- 87 credit hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Jan 18, 2027; Spring 2027; Fall 2027; Spring 2028 and beyond
-
#2
Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, Virginia #61 nationally
51.1 of 100
This associate degree program fits someone in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley who wants a partly online path to airframe and powerplant certification, with standalone certificates available along the way.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science Degree; Airframe Maintenance Certificate; plus 1 more
- Length
- 68 credit hours over four semesters (AAS)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Manassas
Manassas, Virginia #128 nationally
41.7 of 100
Veterans and students near Washington, D.C. who want a Veterans Lounge on campus, GI Bill eligibility, and hands-on time on single and multi-engine aircraft, fit well at the Manassas campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 21 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
-
#4
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia #129 nationally
41.7 of 100
Students who want instructors with military backgrounds and two hangars for real aircraft training, next to Norfolk International Airport, fit well at the Norfolk campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 21 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University | 65.1 | 27.7 | † | 14 | 10 | 0.9 |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Community College | 51.1 | 16.2 | 13.4 | 14 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 3 | AIM Manassas | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
| 4 | AIM Norfolk | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
Across the State Line
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near the Virginia Border
1 FAA-approved school in neighboring states within 100 miles of Virginia Beach-Norfolk, nearest first.
By Metro Area
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings by Virginia 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 Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 2 | AIM Norfolk | $80,450 |
| Aviation maintenance schools near Richmond | 5 | Liberty University | $75,100 |
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Virginia
BLS reports a median annual wage of $82,200 ($39.52 an hour) for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Virginia, where 2,260 people held the job in May 2025. That median ranks 16th of the 50 states with published data; the national median is $79,870.
Projections Central expects statewide employment in the occupation to move from 2,360 in 2024 to 2,400 in 2034 (+1.7%), with about 180 openings a year.
Avionics Technician Pay in Virginia
See the full Virginia aircraft mechanic salary breakdown by metro area
Local Context
Two GI Bill Campuses on Opposite Ends of Virginia
Aviation Institute of Maintenance runs two Virginia campuses, in Manassas and Norfolk, both accepting GI Bill benefits for the same certificate program on the same roughly two-year timeline.
Virginia Beach-Norfolk's aircraft mechanics earn a median of $80,450 a year, well above Richmond's $75,100, even though Richmond's population, 1,370,165, isn't far behind Virginia Beach-Norfolk's 1,794,278.
A Choice Between One Rating or Both in Weyers Cave
Blue Ridge Community College lets students pursue a standalone Airframe or Powerplant certificate over three semesters each, instead of committing straight to the combined Associate of Applied Science over four semesters.
Methodology
How We Rank Aviation Maintenance Schools in Virginia
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 Virginia 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 Virginia
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 Virginia?
How Does Aircraft Mechanic Pay in Virginia Compare to the National Median?
What Is the Job Growth Outlook for Aircraft Mechanics in Virginia?
Is the Aircraft Mechanic Certificate a State or Federal License?
How Long Is Aviation Maintenance School in Virginia?
What Credentials Do Virginia's Aviation Maintenance Programs Award?
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.