2026 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician students.
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2026 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
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #1 spot for value among airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools in Illinois. Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $48,308. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Southwestern Illinois College one of the best values for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $10,388. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Rock Valley College one of the best values for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,334, with out-of-state students paying around $7,379. Students borrow a median of $8,745 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $41,625 early in their careers. Set against $8,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Chicago is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,657. Median earnings reach $53,341 ten years out.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
