Spartan School of Aeronautics was founded September 27, 1928, by W.G. Skelly, President of Skelly Oil Company. He established Spartan Aircraft Company and formed the corporation that built Tulsa Municipal Airport (now called Tulsa International Airport). Since 1928, this airport has been the home of Spartan. Mr. Skelly was convinced that air transportation would come of age and bring with it a need for skilled aircraft technicians and pilots; therefore, Spartan offered both mechanic and flight courses and quickly became a leader in aviation education.

Spartan's fame spread quickly, first nationally and then internationally. Students came from many states and foreign countries.

During World War II and the Korean War, Spartan trained thousands of pilots and mechanics for the armed forces while continuing to expand in the civil aviation field. Much of the credit for this period of expansion goes to J. Paul Getty, who acquired Spartan from Skelly in 1942.

The ownership of Spartan was maintained by Getty until 1968, when it was purchased by Automation Industries, Inc. Spartan built and occupied its south campus on Pine Street in 1969. In 1971, Spartan became a subsidiary of National Education Corporation. National Education Corporation became a subsidiary of Harcourt General Corporation in 1997.

Spartan has graduated more than 80,000 technicians and pilots. Through the performance of its graduates, it has had a significant influence on world aviation.