Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Central Texas College

Based on comparable HVAC programs nationally, this associate degree would carry roughly $12,000 in debt against first-year earnings around $41,400—a manageable 0.29 ratio that looks solid on paper. However, there's a significant disconnect worth understanding: Texas HVAC programs with reported outcomes show median earnings of just $22,800, nearly half the national figure Central Texas College's estimates are drawn from. Since we're working with national peer data rather than actual outcomes from this Killeen program, the real question is whether Central Texas College's graduates land closer to typical Texas outcomes or whether specific factors—location near Fort Hood, partnerships with local employers, curriculum focus—might justify expecting higher earnings.

The estimated debt level seems reasonable either way. At $12,000, it's well below the national median of $17,500 for HVAC programs, which matters considerably if earnings end up in that $22,800 range seen elsewhere in Texas. The trade-off between commercial and residential HVAC work, combined with Killeen's specific job market, likely plays a major role in determining actual graduate outcomes.

Your best move is contacting Central Texas College directly for their graduate employment data—where students work, typical starting wages, and which employers hire from the program. The difference between a $22,000 and $41,000 outcome isn't just significant; it fundamentally changes whether this investment makes sense.