2027 Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/airframe-mechanics-and-aircraft-maintenance-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is Rock Valley College, our #1 best value for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,334, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,745 in student loans. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $41,625. That is a strong return on a $8,745 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician will find it at Lincoln Land Community College, which ranked #2. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $48,308 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Lansing Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Set against $16,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $37,994 early in their careers. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #5 place for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College landed the #6 spot for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician value this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #7 spot for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,375 in student loans. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $35,427. That is a strong return on a $8,375 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #8 for value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Vincennes University came in at #9 for value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $12,421. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $51,346. Set against $12,421 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #10 position for value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $9,625. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $46,837. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
School Of Missionary Aviation Technology landed the #11 spot for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician value this year. School Of Missionary Aviation Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ionia.
Miat College Of Technology ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools. Set in the suburb of Canton, Miat College Of Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,165. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $21,284. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $42,651. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Chicago placed #13 among the best values for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician. Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Chicago is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $16,657. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $30,941. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $44,097. That is a strong return on a $30,941 median debt.
Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Indianapolis placed #14 among the best values for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Indianapolis is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,757 in tuition and fees. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $31,263 in student loans. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Indianapolis generally make around $47,951. Set against $31,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
