Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Florida Career College-Hialeah

This HVAC program at Florida Career College-Hialeah delivers below-average earnings despite reasonable debt levels. Graduates earn $28,989 in their first year—significantly less than both the national median ($35,749) and Florida median ($31,997) for HVAC programs. While the program ranks in the 40th percentile among Florida HVAC programs, it sits in just the 11th percentile nationally, indicating weak performance compared to similar programs across the country.

The debt picture is more manageable, with graduates owing $9,500 at completion—right at the Florida median and slightly below the national average. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in about four months of gross income. The 18% earnings growth from year one to year four shows some income progression, though graduates still trail behind their peers from stronger programs.

The concerning reality is that top HVAC programs in Florida produce graduates earning $40,000-$46,000 in their first year—roughly $12,000-$17,000 more than this program. Given that HVAC is a skilled trade with strong job demand, your child would likely be better served by programs at institutions like Manatee Technical College or Fort Myers Technical College, which deliver significantly higher returns for similar training.