Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Among Top Schools Ranked By Forbes Fighting the National Skills Gap
PITTSBURGH —- Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was recently recognized among the top schools fighting the nation’s skills gap in a list published by Forbes.
For the first time, Forbes has put together a comprehensive ranking of two-year trade schools. Using the same “return on investment” focus as the annual Top Colleges report, this list of 30 looks at three critical data points: earnings, affordability and quality. Full methodology can be found here.
The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics lands as the No. 11 Two-Year Trade School in the U.S. and is the top school on the list for technical trades.
Forbes article lead with commentary from Dirty Jobs and Somebody’s Gotta Do It television personality Mike Rowe. “I can think of nine magazines off the top of my head who every year will rank the top colleges. None of them ever include a trade school.” Rowe spoke about the benefits of choosing trade schools over academia, from affordable tuition to the availability of jobs in the field.
There will only be 1,600 more aircraft mechanics and service technicians in 2024 than there were in 2014, but with over 30,000 job openings over that time, schools like PIA are poised to hook students up with available and fine-paying jobs.
“We’ve had recent career fairs here in Pittsburgh and at each of our campuses in Hagerstown, Myrtle Beach and Youngstown, and we are finding that more companies sign up to attend than we have graduating students,” says Steven Sabold, the director of admissions for the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.
“That we are hosting events with such a large number of companies in comparison to the number of upcoming graduates attending is a strong indicator of career demand. We look forward to the opportunity to serve new students and prepare them with the entry-level mechanic skills we know our employers are looking for,” said Suzanne Markle, President and CEO of the non-profit PIA.
According to PIA Career Services officials, employers are seeking A&P mechanics with strong soft skills, leadership qualities and dependability - all skills required to grow and advance within a company.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites a median salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians at $60,270 (medians are not reflective of starting salaries).
Since 1929, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics campus has been training certified and work-ready aviation maintenance technicians in high demand with programs in Aviation Maintenance Technology and Aviation Electronics. PIA’s flagship program, the Aviation Maintenance Technology program, has been providing quality aircraft mechanics for over 85 years. This program provides students with the opportunity to test for the prestigious FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant Certification, the “golden ticket” to a career in aviation maintenance.
ABOUT PITTSBURGH INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICS
The school was opened by Glenn Curtiss and Orville Wright in 1927 as Curtiss-Wright Flying Service, and became PIA in 1929. PIA offers “hands-on” training for traditional and non-traditional students in Aviation Maintenance and Aviation Electronics. The instructional staff combine real world experience with class room instruction for an outstanding education. PIA also provides a wide range of student services while the student is in school, and after graduation. The Career Services Department works one on one with students to reach their employment goals. PIA is often the first stop for many employers looking for quality employees.
PIA offers an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree at its West Mifflin, PA location and Diploma/Certificate programs in Youngstown, OH, Hagerstown, MD, and Myrtle Beach, SC. There is open enrollment through the year accompanied with admissions requirements. For more information, call 1-800-444-1440, or visit www.pia.edu.
