Rock Valley College trains aviation mechanics at a 40,000-square-foot center on the grounds of Chicago Rockford International Airport. It posted one of the best FAA pass rates in Illinois and costs a fraction of the private schools in the Chicago area.
Verified October 1, 2026 against the college’s 2026-27 catalog, program page and posted tuition rates.
Quick Facts
- Length: 6 terms, about 2 years (A&P certificate)
- Cost: About $12,856 in-district tuition + fees (A&P certificate)
- Location: Rockford, IL (Chicago Rockford International Airport)
- Website: Official School Web Page
Our Take
Rock Valley fits a Rockford-area resident, or anyone in northern Illinois willing to drive, who wants a low-cost, well-regarded A&P program and can commit to a two-year, year-round schedule. Its graduates passed 95% of FAA written tests in the latest report, and AAR’s career pathway adds tuition reimbursement and a route into a large maintenance employer. The trade-offs: admission is selective, seats fill first come, first served, and Rock Valley does not publish class times or aviation course fees.
At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| FAA status | Part 147 certificated school (Chicago Flight Standards District Office) |
| Full A&P credential | Aviation Maintenance Certificate #7201, 76 credits |
| Other credentials | Airframe Technician certificate (47 credits), Powerplant Technician certificate (46 credits), AAS (60 credits, one rating) |
| Length | Six terms, about two years including summers; about 2,000 instructional hours |
| Starts | Fall or spring |
| Tuition + fees (A&P certificate) | About $12,856 in-district; about $21,596 out-of-district or out-of-state, before course fees |
| FAA pass rate | 95.0% (190 of 200 written tests, Aug 2023–Dec 2024) |
| Campus | Aviation Career Education Center, 6045 Cessna Dr, Rockford, IL 61109 |
| Verified | October 1, 2026 |
Programs and Costs
Only the 76-credit certificate covers both the Airframe and Powerplant ratings. The 60-credit AAS pairs a shared core and general education with one 30-credit option, Airframe or Powerplant, so it does not by itself qualify you for both exams.
| Program | Credits | FAA exams covered | Tuition + fees (in-district) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation Maintenance Certificate (#7201) | 76 | General, Airframe, Powerplant | About $12,856 |
| Airframe Technician certificate (#7202) | 47 | General, Airframe | About $7,943 |
| Powerplant Technician certificate (#7203) | 46 | General, Powerplant | About $7,774 |
| Aviation Maintenance Technology AAS (#7200) | 60 | General plus one rating | About $9,765 |
Estimates use Rock Valley’s posted tuition: $125 per credit in-district and $240 out-of-district or out-of-state, plus a $25-per-credit career-technical surcharge (which we assume applies to aviation courses, not general education), $19 per credit in technology and activity fees and $2 per term. Aviation course fees are listed only in the class schedule and are not included.
What You Will Actually Pay
For the full A&P certificate, a district resident pays about $169 per credit, or roughly $12,856 over six terms. Students from outside the district, including out-of-state students, pay about $284 per credit, or roughly $21,596. Add course fees, tools and books, which Rock Valley does not publish.
Rock Valley budgets about $1,525 for FAA testing if you pass each test the first time: about $525 for the three written tests and $1,000 for the oral and practical exam.
Students in the AAR EAGLE Career Pathway can receive tuition reimbursement, mentoring and job shadowing from AAR, the aviation services company; AAR has cited reimbursement of up to $15,000.
Curriculum
The certificate covers the full FAA Part 147 curriculum in about 2,000 instructional hours, delivered over roughly 11 months in each year of the two-year program. For a fall start, terms run 15, 15 and 8 credits in year one and 15, 15 and 8 credits in year two. Topics include regulations, materials and hardware, basic electricity, airframe structures and systems, and reciprocating and turbine engines. The full course list is in the 2026-27 catalog. Rock Valley does not accept transfer credit for aviation maintenance courses.
Facilities
The Aviation Career Education Center opened in 2015 at Chicago Rockford International Airport. Students train on a fully operational CRJ-200 regional jet along with engines and systems trainers.
How to Apply
- Submit a request-for-information form and complete the required one-on-one meeting with the program.
- Apply online to Rock Valley College and provide a high school diploma or GED.
- Place into MTH-115P (or higher) on the math placement.
- Attend the required program orientation. Seats are filled first come, first served.
How It Compares in Illinois
| School | Full A&P path | Length | Tuition + fees (in-district) | FAA pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Valley College (Rockford) | 76 credits | About 2 years | About $12,856 | 95.0% |
| Southwestern Illinois College (Granite City) | 60 credits | 50 weeks to 2 years | $9,240 plus course fees | 87.9% |
| Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield) | 66 credits | 18 months | $20,394 | 90.3% |
| Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) | 64 credits | 4 semesters | $36,944 | 96.3% |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance (Chicago) | 78 credits | 21 months | $52,077 (2023-24) | 76.6% |
| Lewis University (Romeoville) | 61 credits | 15–21 months | $74,298–$84,800 | 95.5% |
Rock Valley is the lowest-cost option in northern Illinois for its district residents and matches Lewis University on pass rates at a sixth of the price. Chicago-area students who want more frequent starts or evening classes should compare AIM Chicago. See all Illinois aviation mechanic schools or the Chicago-area comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rock Valley College’s aviation program FAA-approved?
Yes. Rock Valley operates an FAA Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school under the FAA’s Chicago Flight Standards District Office, and its graduates passed 190 of 200 FAA written tests from August 2023 to December 2024, per the FAA’s pass-rate report.
How long does the A&P program take?
About two years, over six terms including summers, for the 76-credit Aviation Maintenance Certificate.
Does the AAS degree qualify me for both ratings?
No. The 60-credit AAS includes one 30-credit option, Airframe or Powerplant. The 76-credit certificate is the path to both.
How much does it cost for students outside the district?
About $21,596 in tuition and fees for the full certificate at posted rates, before course fees, tools and FAA testing.
Related Programs
View All Aviation Mechanic Schools in Illinois
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) - Chicago
- City Colleges of Chicago - Chicago
- Lewis University - Romeoville
- Lincoln Land Community College - Springfield
- Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
- Southwestern Illinois College - Granite City