Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Carrington College-Phoenix North

The debt load here looks reasonable—an estimated $9,500 is slightly below the national median for HVAC programs and manageable on projected first-year earnings around $35,700. With more than half the student body receiving Pell grants, Carrington is clearly serving students who need affordable pathways into skilled trades, and this debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 suggests they can realistically handle the monthly payments.

The caveat is that these figures come from similar Arizona HVAC programs, not Carrington's actual graduate outcomes. Arizona's HVAC market spans a wide range, with top programs producing graduates who earn $48,000 while others hover around $33,000—a $15,000 spread that matters considerably when you're managing loan payments. The estimate places Carrington right at the state median, but without reported data, there's no way to know if its graduates actually match that figure or land closer to either end of the spectrum.

For parents, the key question is placement rates and employer connections. HVAC credentials are only valuable if they lead to jobs with established contractors or building maintenance departments. Before committing, verify what Carrington's actual job placement looks like and whether local employers actively hire from this program. The debt is modest enough that this could work, but in a field where hands-on training quality directly determines earnings, you need confidence in the program's reputation beyond what estimated numbers can tell you.