Field of study · CIP 47.02
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)
Offered at 816 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 594 | $42,049 | $49,962 | $9,500 |
| Associate | 222 | $46,089 | $59,626 | $14,791 |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hennepin Technical College | MN | $57,081 | $85,568 | $10,500 |
| 2 | Perry Technical Institute | WA | $58,367 | $83,444 | $17,146 |
| 3 | Dakota County Technical College | MN | — | $77,916 | — |
| 4 | Moraine Valley Community College | IL | — | $73,166 | — |
| 5 | Illinois Central College | IL | — | $71,879 | — |
| 6 | Brownson Technical School | CA | — | $69,551 | — |
| 7 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | MN | — | $69,228 | — |
| 8 | Madison Area Technical College | WI | — | $68,911 | — |
| 9 | Motoring Technical Training Institute | MA | $55,863 | $67,787 | $9,500 |
| 10 | Community College of Allegheny County | PA | — | $67,365 | — |
| 11 | Western Technical College | WI | — | $66,750 | — |
| 12 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College | MN | $50,945 | $66,469 | $6,134 |
| 13 | YTI Career Institute-York | PA | $49,985 | $65,876 | $11,495 |
| 14 | Brightpoint Community College | VA | — | $65,561 | — |
| 15 | Institute for Business and Technology | CA | $50,558 | $64,595 | $8,867 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hennepin Technical College | MN | $64,476 | $89,867 | $11,217 |
| 2 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | MN | $61,590 | $79,327 | — |
| 3 | Century College | MN | $64,744 | $78,111 | — |
| 4 | Dunwoody College of Technology | MN | $58,007 | $77,870 | $12,000 |
| 5 | Harrisburg Area Community College | PA | — | $72,229 | — |
| 6 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | NY | $45,467 | $72,220 | $12,000 |
| 7 | Southeast Community College Area | NE | $57,175 | $70,917 | $7,534 |
| 8 | College of Southern Nevada | NV | — | $68,770 | — |
| 9 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | PA | $49,867 | $68,119 | $12,000 |
| 10 | Pikes Peak State College | CO | — | $66,997 | — |
| 11 | Hudson Valley Community College | NY | $51,533 | $66,814 | $8,250 |
| 12 | Des Moines Area Community College | IA | — | $65,356 | — |
| 13 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology | OK | $63,206 | $64,909 | $12,000 |
| 14 | University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | AR | — | $64,486 | — |
| 15 | Northern Virginia Community College | VA | — | $63,110 | $15,632 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
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