Home › Michigan › Aviation Maintenance schools
26 schools in Michigan offer aviation maintenance-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 4 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Michigan train aviation maintenance apprentices — see apprenticeships. Federal program data groups aviation maintenance with diesel mechanics and automotive technology — schools below may offer any of these.
Michigan does not license aircraft mechanics — the required credential is the federal FAA Mechanic Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings (A&P) under 14 CFR Part 65, the same standard used by Detroit Metro's airline maintenance operations. You qualify to test by graduating an FAA Part 147 program (typically 18-24 months; Michigan has several college-based programs) or by documenting 30 months of supervised hands-on experience for both ratings (18 months for one), then passing 3 written exams plus oral and practical tests. Uncertificated technicians may only work under supervision of a certificated mechanic or a Part 145 repair station.
Official source: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight Standards Service — no Michigan state board licenses aircraft mechanics · Exam: 3 FAA written knowledge tests (General, Airframe, Powerplant) plus oral and practical exams with an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner; 70% passing, all tests within 24 months · Typical requirement: Age 18+, English proficiency; graduate an FAA Part 147 school (typically 18-24 months) OR document 18 months of practical experience per rating (30 months for both A&P)
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | public | $660 | 22.4% | $34,795 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | public | $1,618 | 16.6% | $41,596 |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo | public | $2,979 | 21.5% | $38,618 |
| Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | public | $3,249 | 31.1% | $39,449 |
| Alpena Community College | Alpena | public | $3,320 | 50.4% | $36,442 |
| Muskegon Community College | Muskegon | public | $4,005 | 20.9% | $36,549 |
| Monroe County Community College | Monroe | public | $4,586 | 23.6% | $41,646 |
| Delta College | University Center | public | $4,547 | 23.8% | $37,781 |
| Gogebic Community College | Ironwood | public | $5,397 | 34.7% | $40,950 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | public | $5,437 | 19.2% | $39,206 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | public | $5,777 | 31.6% | $37,395 |
| Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac | public | $5,978 | 30.4% | $37,303 |
| Northwestern Michigan College | Traverse City | public | $6,231 | 32% | $38,167 |
| Mott Community College | Flint | public | $5,687 | 21.3% | $32,538 |
| Montcalm Community College | Sidney | public | $7,280 | 34.7% | $35,499 |
| Kirtland Community College | Grayling | public | $7,456 | 23% | $35,831 |
| Jackson College | Jackson | public | $7,761 | 19.5% | $36,898 |
| Mid Michigan College | Harrison | public | $8,370 | 22.9% | $37,319 |
| Grand Rapids Community College | Grand Rapids | public | $8,621 | 23.8% | $38,377 |
| Glen Oaks Community College | Centreville | public | $8,918 | 28.8% | $37,540 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | public | $7,656 | 19.7% | $29,079 |
| Bay de Noc Community College | Escanaba | public | $11,949 | 36.5% | $35,090 |
| Universal Technical Institute-Canton | Canton | private for-profit | $22,985 | 65.8% | $62,575 |
| Michigan Career and Technical Institute | Plainwell | public | not reported | 43.9% | $29,376 |
| School of Missionary Aviation Technology | Ionia | private nonprofit | $17,511 | 95.1% | not reported |
| Marine Trades Institute | Cedarville | private nonprofit | $25,522 | not reported | not reported |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
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