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

Comparable HVAC certificate programs suggest first-year earnings around $36,000 against an estimated debt load of $9,300—a 0.26 ratio that's manageable for skilled trades work. That debt figure sits below both Utah's $13,000 median and the national median of $10,200 for HVAC programs, which matters when you're entering a field where earnings typically start modest but grow with experience and certifications. The challenge is that $36,000 puts graduates right at the national median, not above it, and Utah's HVAC programs have historically produced slightly higher initial earnings at $37,100. For a technical field where hands-on training quality directly impacts job placement and starting wages, the lack of reported outcomes makes it harder to know whether Davis Technical College's specific curriculum and employer connections deliver competitive results.

The practical reality: HVAC technicians are in consistent demand, and the debt burden here won't be crushing. But peer programs in Utah suggest graduates might expect to earn around $37,000 initially, and without school-specific data, you're banking on Davis matching that state average rather than falling short of it. For a certificate program, nine months of debt to earn back isn't terrible, but it's not exceptional either. Before committing, confirm job placement rates and talk to recent graduates about their actual starting wages—those conversations will tell you more than these estimates can.