A one-of-a-kind, educational opportunity is now available to high school students looking to study aircraft mechanics through Kansas State University Salina’s pre-college pathways.
K-State Salina is offering courses for students who desire to complete college credits while still in high school in the in-demand career pathway of aviation maintenance. These courses will be predominantly offered through an online environment, allowing the student to learn anytime, anywhere. The program will also reduce the time it takes to earn an associate degree to just one year after high school graduation, allowing students to become FAA Airframe & Powerplant certified and job ready.
The campus’s pre-college pathways program is helping students who are still in high school gain a head-start on their post-secondary education and careers while learning valuable skills and knowledge to help them better become career-ready.
“The aviation maintenance course is a unique experience that high school students might not otherwise be able to obtain,” said Monte Couchman, director of K-State Salina pre-college pathways. “By starting with the basics of becoming an aircraft mechanic, the K-State Salina campus is offering nontraditional access to an industry with budding career potential.”
While participating students get a jump-start on their college education, they also receive a significantly reduced rate per credit hour compared to traditional college students. Pre-college students can receive up to a 73% discount for these pathway classes through a scholarship, reducing the tuition rate to $85 per credit hour, making their education more affordable and helping transition students into a post-secondary learning environment.
Students will also be instructed by K-State Salina’s aviation maintenance faculty experts, who boast knowledge and industry experience.
“High school students should be interested in a program like this because we’ve got campus data that supports that the aviation maintenance pathway is directly attributable to quality jobs,” Couchman said. “Students can also see what college education rigor looks like in a technical program, albeit in an online modality, but with less risk because of how affordable the price is.”
To qualify for pre-college pathways through K-State Salina, students must be in 10th grade or older, have a 2.0 cumulative high school grade point average and receive permission from a parent or guardian and their high school guidance counselor.
