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Aircraft maintenance instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an aircraft maintenance instructor. Aircraft maintenance instructors usually study aviation, automotive technology, or military technology. 53% of aircraft maintenance instructors hold a associate degree, and 33% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 316 real aircraft maintenance instructor resumes to see exactly what aircraft maintenance instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for aircraft maintenance instructors are the Wayland Baptist University and the Wayland Baptist University.

There are also many online aircraft maintenance instructor courses to help get the education required to be an aircraft maintenance instructor.

What education do you need to become an aircraft maintenance instructor?

What degree do you need to be an aircraft maintenance instructor?

The most common degree for aircraft maintenance instructors is associate degree, with 53% of aircraft maintenance instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 33% and bachelor's degree degree at 7%.
  • Associate, 53%
  • Bachelor's, 33%
  • Master's, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become an aircraft maintenance instructor?

You should major in aviation to become an aircraft maintenance instructor. 29% of aircraft maintenance instructors major in aviation. Other common majors for an aircraft maintenance instructor include automotive technology and military technology.

Most common colleges for aircraft maintenance instructors

Aircraft maintenance instructors often get their degrees at Wayland Baptist University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. Here are the most common colleges for aircraft maintenance instructors in the US based on their resumes.
Aircraft maintenance instructor common collegePercentages
Wayland Baptist University15.79%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale13.16%
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology5.26%
University of Louisiana at Lafayette5.26%
University of Phoenix5.26%

Best majors for aircraft maintenance instructors

RankMajorPercentages
1Aviation29.4%
2Automotive Technology19.4%
3Military Technology7.6%
4Management5.9%
5Business5.9%

Best colleges for aircraft maintenance instructors

The best colleges for aircraft maintenance instructors are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

An aircraft maintenance instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for aircraft maintenance instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become aircraft maintenance instructors.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

2. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

3. University of Minnesota - Crookston

Crookston, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$11,822

Enrollment

1,834

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. Baker College

Owosso, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$9,800

Enrollment

8,319

6. Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$27,124

Enrollment

2,035

7. SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill

Cobleskill, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,654

Enrollment

2,231

8. SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville

Morrisville, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,670

Enrollment

2,758

9. Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS • Private

In-state tuition

$10,383

Enrollment

17,611

10. University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK • Private

In-state tuition

$8,580

Enrollment

10,482

20 best online courses for aircraft maintenance instructors

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Top 10 most affordable universities for aircraft maintenance instructors

The most affordable schools for aircraft maintenance instructors are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - los angeles.

If the best universities for aircraft maintenance instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for aircraft maintenance instructors.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for aircraft maintenance instructors

The hardest universities for aircraft maintenance instructors to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for aircraft maintenance instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for aircraft maintenance instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

10. Baylor University

Waco, TX • Private

Admissions rate

39%

SAT average

1,307

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for aircraft maintenance instructors

The easiest schools for aircraft maintenance instructors to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and notre dame college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an aircraft maintenance instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for aircraft maintenance instructors.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

7. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

8. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

9. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average aircraft maintenance instructor salary by education level

Aircraft maintenance instructors with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $46,587 annually. With a Associate degree, aircraft maintenance instructors earn a median annual income of $46,548 compared to $39,383 for aircraft maintenance instructors with an High School Diploma degree.
Aircraft maintenance instructor education levelAircraft maintenance instructor salary
High School Diploma or Less$39,383
Bachelor's Degree$46,587
Some College/ Associate Degree$46,548

Aircraft maintenance instructor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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