Updated October 5, 2026. Verified against 2026-27 tuition schedules, program pages, Utah aid rules and FAA pass-rate data. How we verify.
Utah has three FAA-certificated A&P mechanic programs, all at public colleges: Salt Lake Community College, Utah State University and Southern Utah University. Utah residents pay about $10,100 to $41,700, and all three posted FAA pass rates near or above 90%. Universal Technical Institute plans to add a fourth option in West Jordan in 2027, pending FAA approval.
Key Takeaways
- Salt Lake area: SLCC at Salt Lake City International Airport, about $11,600 in resident tuition and fees, with morning or evening sections and a SkyWest Airlines hiring pathway.
- Lowest cost: Utah State University’s new program at USU Eastern in Price, about $10,100 for four semesters for residents; USU’s Logan campus is about $18,100.
- Helicopter training: Southern Utah University in Cedar City includes helicopter maintenance and supplies tools, at about $41,700 with lab fees.
- Coming in 2027: UTI Salt Lake City in West Jordan, a 78-week associate degree for $51,475, pending FAA approval.
- Pay: Utah aircraft mechanics earn a median of $70,160, and $73,210 in the Salt Lake City area.
Utah A&P Schools Compared
Costs are tuition and mandatory fees for Utah residents for the full path to the General, Airframe and Powerplant exams. Tools, books and FAA exam fees are extra unless noted.
| School | Full A&P path | Length and schedule | Cost (Utah residents) | FAA pass rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake Community College Airport Center, Salt Lake City | AAS | About 5 semesters; morning or evening | About $11,600 + course fees and tools | 89.3% |
| Utah State University Logan; USU Eastern, Price | AAS (2,030 hours) | 2 years | About $18,100 Logan; $10,100 Price; + $900–$1,400 tools | 100% (25 tests) |
| Southern Utah University Cedar City Regional Airport | AAS + A&P, helicopter training | 5 semesters (about 18 months) | About $41,700 incl. $23,500 lab fees; tools supplied | 92.2% |
| Universal Technical Institute – Salt Lake City West Jordan (opens 2027) | AOS degree (1,950 hours) | 78 weeks | $51,475, books included | Pending FAA approval |
*Combined General, Airframe and Powerplant written-test pass rate, August 1, 2023–December 31, 2024, from the FAA’s pass-rate report. The FAA labels this data preliminary. USU’s rate is based on 25 tests and SUU’s on 51. Five-semester and four-semester totals are our estimates from each school’s 2026-27 rates.
What A&P School Costs in Utah
SLCC charges a flat $2,323.75 per semester for Utah residents in 2026-27, about $11,600 over five semesters; course fees and tools are not published. USU lists $4,532 per semester in Logan and $2,524 at USU Eastern for residents, and students buy about $900–$1,400 in tools. SUU charges $3,633.50 per semester plus $23,500 in lab fees over five semesters, which cover tools.
UTI Salt Lake City lists $51,475 for its Aviation Maintenance Technology degree in its campus catalog: $50,500 tuition plus registration, lab, equipment and laptop fees, with books included and up to $2,000 toward FAA exam fees. The catalog says the program is not eligible for VA benefits.
Utah aid
- Utah Promise Grant: need-based state aid for Utah residents who file the FAFSA, usable at SLCC, USU and SUU but not at for-profit schools, per the Utah System of Higher Education.
- Opportunity Scholarship: up to $800 per semester for 2026 high school graduates with a 3.3 GPA and the required courses, at public colleges (details).
- Western Undergraduate Exchange: students from other western states can pay 150% of resident tuition at SLCC, USU and SUU instead of full nonresident rates.
- Workforce funds: adults who qualify can apply for WIOA training funds through the Department of Workforce Services.
Utah A&P Schools by Region
Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Front
Salt Lake Community College
SLCC’s Airport Center sits on the east side of Salt Lake City International Airport. Classes run Monday through Friday in a morning section (7:00 a.m.–1:20 p.m.) or an evening section (2:30–8:50 p.m.), and students work on fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, piston and turbine engines and a Beech Starship. SLCC is a SkyWest AMT Pathway school, which offers participating students education assistance and a guaranteed final interview. Graduates passed 89.3% of FAA written tests.
Universal Technical Institute – Salt Lake City (opening 2027)
UTI is converting a former Shopko store at 1553 W 9000 S in West Jordan into a 113,000-square-foot campus scheduled to open in 2027, pending regulatory approvals. UTI lists its 78-week Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree for this campus as coming pending FAA approval. No start date has been published.
Why Students Will Consider UTI Salt Lake City
Utah’s public programs cost far less, but they start classes only once or twice a year. UTI starts classes several times a year at its other campuses, includes books in tuition, pays up to $2,000 toward FAA tests for qualifying graduates and has employer partnerships such as Hawaiian Airlines. Veterans should note that the Salt Lake City program is not VA-eligible, per UTI’s catalog.
Northern Utah
Utah State University (Logan and Price)
USU’s two-year Aircraft Maintenance Technician AAS (2,030 hours) is taught in Logan and, since 2025, at USU Eastern in Price, where a new hangar opened at Carbon County Airport in January 2026. Students can also earn separate Airframe and Powerplant certificates. USU requires 70% or better in every course, and its graduates passed all 25 FAA written tests in the latest report.
Southern Utah
Southern Utah University (Cedar City)
SUU’s program at Cedar City Regional Airport takes five consecutive semesters, about 18 months, and includes helicopter maintenance at no extra cost, with an optional avionics certificate. It accepts 50 students per semester, requires an FAA medical certificate to apply and is a SkyWest pathway partner. Graduates passed 92.2% of FAA written tests.
Aviation Maintenance Jobs and Pay in Utah
Utah aircraft mechanics earn a median of $70,160; the middle 80% earn $46,210–$104,550. Medians are $73,210 in the Salt Lake City area, $67,910 in Ogden and $66,510 in Provo-Orem, per BLS wage data published by O*NET.
- Hill Air Force Base: the Ogden Air Logistics Complex employs more than 8,100 people and overhauls F-35, F-22, F-16, A-10 and C-130 aircraft. Civilian aircraft mechanic jobs there recently paid $67,744–$79,014.
- Airlines: SkyWest, headquartered in St. George, runs a hub and maintenance base in Salt Lake City, and Delta has about 5,400 employees in Utah.
- Air medical and military: Intermountain Life Flight operates more than 40 aircraft, and the Utah Air National Guard flies KC-135 tankers from Salt Lake City.
How to Become an A&P Mechanic in Utah
- Complete a Part 147 program (18 months to two years in Utah), or document 30 months of hands-on experience on airframes and engines.
- Pass three written tests (General, Airframe, Powerplant) at an FAA-approved testing center.
- Pass the oral and practical exams with a Designated Mechanic Examiner.
- Receive your FAA Mechanic Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings. You must be at least 18. Utah has no separate state license.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many A&P schools are in Utah?
Three: Salt Lake Community College, Utah State University (Logan and Price) and Southern Utah University. UTI plans to open a fourth in West Jordan in 2027, pending FAA approval.
What is the cheapest A&P school in Utah?
Utah State University at USU Eastern in Price, about $10,100 in tuition and fees for four semesters for Utah residents. SLCC is about $11,600 over five semesters.
Is there a night A&P program in Utah?
Yes. SLCC runs an evening section, Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 8:50 p.m.
When does UTI open in Salt Lake City?
UTI says its West Jordan campus is scheduled to open in 2027, pending regulatory approvals, and its aviation program is pending FAA approval. No start date has been published.
Can out-of-state students get a discount?
Students from other western states can apply for the Western Undergraduate Exchange at SLCC, USU and SUU, which caps tuition at 150% of the resident rate.
How We Verify This Information
We check every figure against primary sources: each school’s 2026-27 tuition schedule and program pages, UTI’s campus catalog, Utah System of Higher Education aid rules and the FAA’s pass-rate report. Where a school does not publish a figure, we say so or show our estimate. Verified October 5, 2026.