Updated October 1, 2026. Verified against each school’s published program, cost and schedule information, state training-provider listings, ACCSC disclosures and FAA pass-rate data.
Metro Phoenix has five FAA-certificated A&P mechanic programs: Aviation Institute of Maintenance near Sky Harbor, Universal Technical Institute in Avondale, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Thrust Institute in Mesa, and West-MEC in Glendale. Costs range from about $8,200 at Chandler-Gilbert to $54,095 at UTI. Pima Community College in Tucson, about two hours south, is the other Arizona option.
Key Takeaways
- Lowest cost: Chandler-Gilbert, about $8,223 in tuition and fees for Maricopa County residents.
- Soonest start: AIM Phoenix starts about every five weeks (next start November 2, 2026); Thrust starts monthly.
- Fastest: Thrust Institute, 10 months. UTI Avondale takes 78 weeks; AIM takes 21 months.
- Working days? West-MEC runs only evenings, Monday–Thursday, 6–10:30 p.m.
- Federal aid: AIM, UTI, Chandler-Gilbert and West-MEC accept it. Thrust accepts only private loans and 529 plans.
Phoenix A&P Schools Compared
| School | Credential | Length | Cost | Starts | Schedule | FAA pass rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Phoenix Phoenix, near Sky Harbor | AMT certificate (78 credits) | 21 months | $51,122 tuition + fees; $53,447 with books and tools | About every 5 weeks | Day or evening | Not yet in FAA data |
| Universal Technical Institute – Avondale West Valley | A&P Technician diploma (69 credits) | 78 weeks | $54,095 | Not published | Day | Not yet in FAA data |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College Mesa, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport | AMT certificate (84 credits) | 5 semesters | $8,223 in-county; $31,323 out-of-state | Each semester (50 seats) | Morning or afternoon cohort | 91.6% |
| West-MEC Glendale | A&P program (1,926 hours) | 117 weeks | $26,952.50 all-in | Jan 5, 2027 | Evenings only | 87.2% |
| Thrust Institute of Maintenance Mesa, Falcon Field | AMT program | 10 months | $39,539 (books, tool rental included) | Monthly | Day or night | 97.1%** |
*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. AIM Phoenix (opened January 2024) and UTI Avondale (launched July 2023) had no graduates testing in that period. **Thrust’s rate is for its Texas campuses.
What A&P School Costs in Phoenix
Chandler-Gilbert charges $97 per credit for Maricopa County residents in 2026-27, frozen for a fourth year, plus $15 per semester. The 84-credit certificate comes to $8,223. Out-of-state students pay $372 per credit; the WUE rate for other Western states is $145.50.
West-MEC charges $26,952.50 for everyone, covering tuition, lab fees, supplies and books, plus a $50 application fee.
UTI Avondale lists $54,095 for students enrolling from August 2026, including books, and subsidizes up to $2,000 in FAA test fees for graduates who meet its criteria. AIM Phoenix does not publish current tuition; its state training-provider listing shows $51,122 in tuition and fees and $53,447 with books and tools. Thrust charges $39,539 including books and tool rental.
FAA exams. Budget $1,500–$2,000 for the written, oral and practical exams unless your school covers them.
The Schools
Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Phoenix
AIM opened at 4025 S 32nd St in January 2024, in a converted 80,000-square-foot building with two hangars and seven aircraft. It is the best fit if you want to start soon, need evening classes or plan to use federal aid or VA benefits.
- Program: 21-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certificate (78 credits), the only aviation program at Phoenix.
- Starts and schedule: about every five weeks, day or evening; next start November 2, 2026. See AIM Phoenix’s campus page.
- Accreditation and aid: ACCSC; Pell Grants, federal loans, VA benefits and Military Tuition Assistance.
- Outcomes: too new for FAA pass-rate data or ACCSC completion rates.
Universal Technical Institute – Avondale
UTI’s West Valley campus at 10695 W Pierce St added A&P training in July 2023. The program runs 1,950 clock hours over 78 weeks, with hands-on labs and instructor-led online coursework. Tuition includes books.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Mesa)
Chandler-Gilbert trains at its Williams Campus beside Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. It is the lowest-cost option for county residents and has a 91.6% FAA pass rate.
- Program: AMT certificate (84 credits, five semesters) or an AAS that adds general education. Students who already hold an FAA certificate can skip the 19-credit General block.
- Admission: 50 students a semester, in morning and afternoon cohorts of 25, first come, first served. You need placement into college-level English, reading and math.
West-MEC (Glendale)
West-MEC’s Central Campus at 6997 N Glen Harbor Blvd runs the adult A&P program in the evenings, Monday–Thursday, over 117 weeks. It is accredited by COE and accepts federal aid, the GI Bill and WIOA funding. The next cohort starts January 5, 2027.
Thrust Institute of Maintenance (Mesa)
Thrust’s Mesa campus sits at Falcon Field. Its 10-month program is the fastest in the metro, with day and night shifts and monthly starts. Thrust is not accredited and does not accept federal aid or the GI Bill.
Nearby: Pima Community College (Tucson)
Pima’s Aviation Technology Center at Tucson International Airport offers a 58-credit A&P certificate in 16 months full-time, for about $13,429 in tuition and fees for Arizona residents plus $4,070 in course fees. See all Arizona A&P schools.