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Airplane mechanic education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an airplane mechanic. Airplane mechanics usually study aviation, business, or automotive technology. 34% of airplane mechanics hold a high school diploma, and 30% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 182 real airplane mechanic resumes to see exactly what airplane mechanic education sections show.
The most common colleges for airplane mechanics are the Alpena Community College and the Alpena Community College.
There are also many online airplane mechanic courses to help get the education required to be an airplane mechanic.
What education do you need to become an airplane mechanic?
What degree do you need to be an airplane mechanic?
- High School Diploma, 34%
- Associate, 30%
- Bachelor's, 20%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 9%
What should I major in to become an airplane mechanic?
Most common colleges for airplane mechanics
| Airplane mechanic common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Alpena Community College | 5.00% |
| Green River Community College | 5.00% |
| University of Memphis | 5.00% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegas | 5.00% |
| South Seattle College | 5.00% |
Best majors for airplane mechanics
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aviation | 19.0% |
| 2 | Business | 15.5% |
| 3 | Automotive Technology | 15.5% |
| 4 | Health Care Administration | 6.9% |
| 5 | History | 5.2% |
Best colleges for airplane mechanics
The best colleges for airplane mechanics are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
An airplane mechanic with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for airplane mechanics. 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 airplane mechanics.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
3. SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
Cobleskill, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,654
Enrollment
2,231
4. SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville
Morrisville, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,670
Enrollment
2,758
5. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
7. Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, ID • Private
In-state tuition
$4,118
Enrollment
37,636
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
10. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,570
Enrollment
3,721
20 best online courses for airplane mechanics
Advertising disclosure
1. Fundamentals of Flight mechanics
How do planes take off? How do they fly? How do pilots maintain control of them? And how high can airplanes fly? Get answers to all these questions and more with this specialization exploring the fundamentals of flight mechanics. You will learn how the laws of physics apply to airplanes and discover important concepts in aviation including lift, drag, and propulsion...
2. Flight mechanics - Lift and trajectory
In this course, you will understand the influence of the angle of attack and speed on the lift. Then we will focus on hazards and limitations, like stall, spiral dive, or flutter. You will understand why stall phenomenon and Mach number limit the maximum lift and altitude the airplane can achieve. Then, you must understand what is flutter and why the altitude and speed of the airplane must be restricted to a safe domain. In the end, we will explain how to control the trajectory of the airplane...
3. Part 1 FAA Private Pilot Ground School (Part 61)
Introduction to flight training, Aircraft Structure, Systems and Flight Instruments...
4. Flight Mechanics - From Theory to Certification of Aircraft
Modeling theory, aircraft 6DOF simulation, flight dynamics, flight simulators and aircraft certification...
5. Flight Mechanics - Anemobarometry
This course focuses on the physics of the atmosphere and its consequences on speed and altitude measurements. At the end of this course, you will understand precisely the meaning of the speed and altitude indication available to the pilot of an airplane. You will understand the difference between standard and actual atmosphere and be able to perform basic altitude and speed correction computations. You will understand why jet airliners need to be pressurized, or why a clogged Pitot tube can...
6. Modelling and simulation of mechanical systems
The course provides the principles of modelling and simulation of modern mechatronic systems, which are mechanical systems integrated with several types of sensors and actuators. The aim of the course is to show different methodologies to improve the potential of mechanical systems by transforming them into mechatronic systems based on virtual models. In particular, the lessons will be focused on case studies in three engineering fields: robotics, controlled electro-hydraulic actuators and...
7. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Fundamentals and Advanced
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Mechanics of Airplanes - Aerodynamics, Flight Maneuvers, JET Engines...
8. Aerospace Engineering: Aircraft Systems and Avionics
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Master the Systems of Airplanes - Hydraulics, Avionics, Electric, Propulsion...
9. Flight mechanics - Propulsive balance and energy
This course is dedicated to energy management, i.e. speed and altitude control. The various sources of drag are first described and modeled, as well as thrust origin, and evolution with speed and altitude. Using these models, we can evaluate the propulsive balance and derive important concepts like flight regimes, best climb speed, or propulsion ceiling. We take then a glance at cruise performances and the evolution of range with weight. This course is a part of the specialization "Fundamentals...
10. Build Image Quality Inspection using AWS Lookout for Vision
In this guided project, you will learn how to build automated image quality inspection using Amazon Lookout for Vision. Amazon Lookout for Vision is a Machine Learning as a Service from Amazon Web services which you could leverage to do Image Analytics and address interesting use cases such as drone detection, defect detection, object detection, smile detection, fall detection without writing a single line of code. Please note: As part of this course, you would need your AWS Account to complete...
11. Garnett Cross Training in the Maintenance of Oil Hydraulics
This course will prepare you to work with hydraulic systems, plan maintenance and perform troubleshooting...
12. Aerospace Engineering: Airplanes, Airlines and Airports
Understand how Airplanes generate Lift, how Airlines and Airports operate and what is Aerospace Engineering today...
13. Continuous Code Inspection with SonarQube
How to integrate Sonar Qube with your Maven projects...
14. SonarQube SonarCloud - Continuous Inspection and Code Review
Automated continuous inspection and code quality. Sonar Qube and Sonar Cloud to analyse 25+ languages in real time...
15. The Complete Engineering Mechanics Course
Master the fundamentals of mechanics, statics and applied physics and then solve real-world mechanics problems...
16. Basics of Material selection for mechanical design engineers
Learn about the fundamentals of materials and their selection for mechanical engineering design for design engineers...
17. Mechanics / Statics - Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Solid Mechanics / Engineering Statics...
18. Intro to Airplane Physics in Unity 3D - 2017 & 2018
Learn how to build your very own Custom Airplane Physics with Unity & C#...
19. Data Center Essentials: Mechanical & Cooling
The mechanical cooling systems that support data centers and the internet...
20. Maintenance Planning Basics
Understanding maintenance planning basics of successful maintenance department...
Top 10 most affordable universities for airplane mechanics
The most affordable schools for airplane mechanics are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for airplane mechanics 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 airplane mechanics.
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. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
9. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
10. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for airplane mechanics
The hardest universities for airplane mechanics to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for airplane mechanics 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 airplane mechanics 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. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
8. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. Brandeis University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
31%
SAT average
1,398
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for airplane mechanics
The easiest schools for airplane mechanics 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 airplane mechanic 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 airplane mechanics.
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. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
8. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
9. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
10. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
Average airplane mechanic salary by education level
| Airplane mechanic education level | Airplane mechanic salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $59,855 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $65,334 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $65,306 |
Airplane mechanic education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common installation, maintenance and repair questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025