Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Centura College-Virginia Beach

Centura College-Virginia Beach's HVAC program produces first-year earnings well below what parents should expect from this field. At $29,395, graduates earn about 18% less than the Virginia median and fall in just the 13th percentile nationally—meaning 87% of similar programs deliver better earnings. When Virginia Western's HVAC program just up the road produces graduates earning $40,629, that $11,000+ gap is hard to justify.

The debt load tells a better story: at $14,750, it matches Virginia's median and ranks in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning it's lower than 95% of programs). With a 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates could theoretically pay off loans in a year or two with disciplined budgeting. The high Pell grant percentage (71%) also suggests the school serves students who need affordable options.

However, affordable debt doesn't compensate for significantly lower earning potential, especially in a skilled trade where HVAC technicians are in high demand. The concerning reality is that even among Virginia programs—where this ranks at the 40th percentile—there are clearly superior alternatives within the same metro area. Virginia Western's community college certificate delivers 38% higher first-year earnings, likely at comparable or lower cost. Unless location or scheduling makes Centura the only viable option, families should explore Virginia's higher-performing HVAC programs first.