St. Philip’s College, part of the Alamo Colleges District, trains aviation mechanics at its Aircraft Technology Center on the Southwest Campus, on the former Kelly Air Force Base next to Port San Antonio’s aerospace employers.
Verified October 2, 2026 against the college’s program page, Alamo Colleges 2026-27 cost of attendance and the college catalog. Compare all Texas A&P schools.
Quick Facts
- Length: About 5 semesters (both Level 2 certificates)
- Cost: About $8,300 in-district (both ratings, est.)
- Location: San Antonio, TX (Southwest Campus, former Kelly AFB)
- Website: Official School Web Page
Our Take
St. Philip’s is the low-cost public option in San Antonio: about $8,300 for both ratings for Bexar County residents, and eligible residents may qualify for free tuition through San Antonio’s Ready to Work program. Graduates passed 86.9% of FAA written tests. The college publishes little about schedules and start terms, so contact the program director.
At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| FAA status | Part 147 certificated school (certificate PHJT009K) |
| Credentials | AAS Airframe (60 credits), AAS Powerplant (60), Level 2 Airframe and Powerplant certificates (45 each), Structures and Turbine Mechanic Level 1 certificates |
| Both ratings | 73 credits (17 shared + 28 Airframe + 28 Powerplant) |
| Cost | About $8,300 in-district for both ratings (2026-27 estimate); about $13,500 out-of-district |
| Aid | Ready to Work (free tuition for eligible San Antonio residents), federal aid |
| FAA pass rate | 86.9% (53 of 61 written tests, Aug 2023–Dec 2024) |
| Campus | Aircraft Technology Center, Southwest Campus, 800 Quintana Rd, San Antonio, TX 78211 |
| Verified | October 2, 2026 |
Programs and Costs
St. Philip’s aircraft technician programs award Airframe and Powerplant separately; students wanting both ratings complete both Level 2 certificates or both AAS degrees.
| Program | Credits | FAA exams covered |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 certificate – Airframe | 45 | General, Airframe |
| Level 2 certificate – Powerplant | 45 | General, Powerplant |
| Both Level 2 certificates | 73 | General, Airframe, Powerplant |
| AAS Airframe / AAS Powerplant | 60 each | General plus one rating |
Cost estimates use Alamo Colleges’ 2026-27 cost of attendance (about $114 per credit in-district, $185 out-of-district and $332 non-resident, fees included).
What You Will Actually Pay
Using Alamo Colleges’ 2026-27 cost of attendance, both ratings come to about $8,300 for Bexar County residents, $13,500 for other Texans and $24,200 for non-residents. San Antonio residents may qualify for free tuition through Ready to Work. Tools, books and FAA testing are extra.
How It Compares in Texas
| School | Full A&P path | Length | Cost | FAA pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Philip’s College (San Antonio) | Airframe + Powerplant Level 2 (73 credits) | About 5 semesters | About $8,300 | 86.9% |
| Hallmark University (San Antonio) | AAS A&P (96 credits) | 70 weeks | $43,110 + fees | 88.7% |
| Del Mar College (Corpus Christi) | Airframe + Powerplant Level II (81 credits) | 18 months | $9,416 | Too few tests |
| Texas State Technical College (3 campuses) | Airframe AAS + Powerplant | About 2.5 years | $307 per credit | 83.0–96.1% |
| Tarrant County College (Fort Worth) | Airframe + Powerplant (about 74 credits) | 2 years day; 3 evening | About $5,476 | 88.4% |
| Texarkana College | Certificate (45 credits) | 3 semesters | $7,485 | New program |
St. Philip’s costs about a fifth of Hallmark University, San Antonio’s private option, though Hallmark finishes faster. See all Texas A&P schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Philip’s College’s aviation program FAA-approved?
Yes. It operates FAA Part 147 school PHJT009K; graduates passed 53 of 61 FAA written tests from August 2023 to December 2024, per the FAA’s pass-rate report.
Can I get free tuition?
San Antonio residents may qualify for Ready to Work, which covers tuition for approved programs including this one.
How many credits for both ratings?
73: 17 shared General credits plus 28 each for Airframe and Powerplant.
Related Programs
View All Aviation Mechanic Schools in Texas
- Amarillo College - Amarillo
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) - Irving, Houston
- Dallas College - Dallas
- Del Mar College - Corpus Christi
- Hallmark University - San Antonio
- LeTourneau University - Longview
- Midland College - Midland
- North Central Texas College - Denton
- Southwest Texas College - Del Rio
- Tarrant County College - Fort Worth
- Texarkana College - Texarkana
- Thrust Institute of Maintenance - Addison, Burleson, Conroe
- Texas State Technical College - Waco
- U.S. Aviation Academy - Denton, San Marcos
- Universal Technical Institute - Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio