Southwestern Illinois College trains aviation mechanics at its Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, across the Mississippi from St. Louis. The FAA lists the program under the college’s legal name, Community College District 522.
Verified October 3, 2026 against SWIC’s program pages and Fall 2026 tuition table. Compare all Illinois A&P schools.
Quick Facts
- Length: 50 weeks intensive or 2 years part-time (A&P certificate)
- Cost: $9,240 in-district (A&P certificate, Fall 2026) + course fees
- Location: Granite City, IL (Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, St. Louis area)
- Website: Official School Web Page
Our Take
SWIC is the least expensive full A&P program in Illinois and one of the fastest: about $9,240 for district residents and 50 weeks on the eight-hour-a-day schedule. A four-hour-a-day option over two years suits students who work. It also draws students from the Missouri side of the St. Louis metro.
At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| FAA status | Part 147 certificated school (certificate DEMT159D, listed as Community College District Number 522) |
| Full A&P credential | Airframe & Powerplant certificate, 60 credits |
| Other credentials | Airframe certificate (36 credits), Powerplant certificate (36), AAS (75) |
| Length | 50 weeks at 8 hours a day, or 2 years at 4 hours a day |
| Cost (Fall 2026) | $9,240 in-district; $14,940 out-of-district; $14,700 out-of-state; plus course fees |
| Transfer | Pathway to SIU Carbondale’s BS |
| FAA pass rate | 87.9% (175 of 199 written tests, Aug 2023–Dec 2024) |
| Campus | Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Rd, Granite City, IL 62040 |
| Verified | October 3, 2026 |
Programs and Costs
SWIC’s A&P certificate is the aviation core of the AAS without general education.
| Program | Credits | Length | In-district cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airframe & Powerplant certificate | 60 | 50 weeks intensive or 2 years | $9,240 |
| AAS Aviation Maintenance Technology | 75 | About 24 months | $11,550 |
| Airframe certificate | 36 | 8–10 months | $5,544 |
| Powerplant certificate | 36 | 8–10 months | $5,544 |
Costs are tuition plus mandatory fees; aviation course fees vary by course and are listed in the class schedule.
What You Will Actually Pay
SWIC’s Fall 2026 rates are $145 per credit for District 522 residents, $240 for other Illinois residents and $236 for out-of-state students, plus $9 per credit in fees. The A&P certificate comes to about $9,240, $14,940 or $14,700 before course fees, books and tools. One SWIC table suggests some out-of-state students pay the in-district rate; ask the student accounts office.
How It Compares in Illinois
| School | Full A&P path | Length | Cost | FAA pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois College (Granite City) | A&P certificate (60 credits) | 50 weeks–2 years | $9,240 + course fees | 87.9% |
| Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) | Airframe + Powerplant certificates (64 credits) | 4 semesters | $36,944 | 96.3% |
| Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield) | Airframe + Powerplant certificates (66 credits) | 18 months | $20,394 | 90.3% |
| Rock Valley College (Rockford) | Certificate (76 credits) | 6 terms, about 22 months | About $12,856 | 95.0% |
| Lewis University (Romeoville) | AMT certificate (61 credits) | 15–21 months | $74,298–$84,800 | 95.5% |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance (Chicago) | AMT certificate (78 credits) | 21 months | $52,077 (2023-24) | 76.6% |
SWIC is the lowest-cost full A&P path in Illinois. See all Illinois A&P schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southwestern Illinois College’s aviation program FAA-approved?
Yes. It operates FAA Part 147 school DEMT159D; graduates passed 175 of 199 FAA written tests from August 2023 to December 2024, per the FAA’s pass-rate report.
How fast can I finish?
50 weeks on the intensive schedule of eight hours a day.
Can Missouri residents attend?
Yes. Out-of-state students paid $236 per credit plus fees in Fall 2026, about $14,700 for the certificate.
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
- Rock Valley College - Rockford
- Southern Illinois University - Carbondale