2027 Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in Illinois

[Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/airframe-mechanics-and-aircraft-maintenance-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Lincoln Land Community College the best value for a degree in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician in Illinois. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $48,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Rock Valley College one of the best values for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician. 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. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $8,745. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $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 Southwestern Illinois College, which ranked #3. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Chicago earned it the #4 place for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician. Set in the city of Chicago, Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Chicago is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,657 in tuition and fees. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $30,941 in student loans. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Chicago earn a median of $44,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.