Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Clover Park Technical College

Comparable HVAC programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $35,700 with debt near $9,300—a reasonable 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio that means graduates could theoretically pay off loans with about three months of gross income. That's the good news. The concerning part? Washington's HVAC market appears significantly stronger than this estimate reflects. Other programs in the state report median earnings of $48,900, with Perry Technical Institute graduates earning nearly $58,000 their first year out. If Clover Park's outcomes align with state rather than national patterns, this could be a much stronger investment than these estimates suggest.

The challenge is we're working with projected figures because too few recent graduates exist to report actual outcomes—common for smaller technical programs but frustrating when trying to assess value. The estimated debt level is manageable for a skilled trade, particularly in Washington's robust construction and commercial sectors where HVAC technicians remain in demand. However, the $13,000 earnings gap between the national estimate used here and Washington's actual state median is substantial enough to meaningfully change the program's value proposition.

Given the uncertainty, focus on placement rates and employer connections specific to Clover Park. If their graduates are securing jobs at Washington market rates rather than the lower national baseline, this becomes a solid investment. If outcomes lag closer to the national estimate while you're paying to live in a higher-cost state, that's a different calculation entirely.