Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at American Trade School

American Trade School's HVAC program sits in an unusual position: its graduates earn $44,057 initially, which crushes the national median by nearly $8,300 and lands them in the 95th percentile nationally. Yet within Missouri, where HVAC training is stronger across the board, these same earnings only reach the 60th percentile—good, but not exceptional. The state's median for HVAC programs is $41,460, so graduates here are doing about $2,600 better than typical Missouri peers.

The debt picture is straightforward and manageable. At $19,000, students borrow exactly what's typical for Missouri HVAC programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. That means graduates should be able to pay off their loans in roughly half a year's salary—a reasonable burden for career training. The flat earnings trajectory from year one to year four ($44,057 to $44,218) suggests these are stable jobs rather than fast-growth careers, but stability matters in the trades.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could swing these numbers significantly. Still, for families considering HVAC training in Missouri, American Trade School delivers solid results at a fair price. You're paying market rate for above-market outcomes, even if nearby Metropolitan Community College edges them out slightly with $44,715 in starting earnings.