2026 Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
Leading the list is Western Nebraska Community College, our #1 best value for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician in the The Plains States Region. Western Nebraska Community College is a small public school located in the town of Scottsbluff. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,410. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $62,413. Set against $14,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician will find it at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #2. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $10,000. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Indian Hills Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Students borrow a median of $13,188 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Indian Hills Community College generally make around $50,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wichita Area Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,237. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $13,000. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Wichita Area Technical College generally make around $51,665. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $7,080. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,055 in student loans. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $47,199. That is a strong return on a $10,055 median debt.
Northland Community And Technical College earned the #6 position for value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,289. Students borrow a median of $11,302 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Northland Community And Technical College earn a median of $43,254 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $24,036. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $59,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn State Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools. Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Linn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $42,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Superior College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,721 in student loans. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $40,548 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,721 median debt.
Kansas State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates is $23,546. Early-career airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Kansas City came in at #11 for value in airframe mechanics & aircraft maintenance technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Kansas City is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $16,757 in tuition and fees. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $31,494 in student loans. Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Kansas City earn a median of $32,011 early in their careers. Set against $31,494 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Narrow Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools by State
More Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Rankings
View All Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
