Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Florida Education Institute

At $31,247 in first-year earnings, Florida Education Institute's HVAC program falls about $4,500 below the national median—a significant gap in a skilled trade where graduates should expect decent immediate pay. More concerning, while the school's debt matches the Florida median, top HVAC programs in the state like Manatee Technical College and Fort Myers Technical College produce graduates earning $45,000+, nearly 50% more than this program. This isn't just trailing the leaders; this program sits at the 40th percentile among Florida schools, meaning 60% of in-state options deliver better earnings outcomes.

The manageable $9,500 debt does provide some cushion, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio at a reasonable 0.30. For a family looking at HVAC training, this program won't bury their child in debt. However, with 52% of students qualifying for Pell grants, many attendees need strong earnings quickly to justify even modest educational costs. Starting at $31,000 in Miami—where living costs run high—presents real financial challenges compared to peers who chose other Florida programs and are earning $10,000-$15,000 more annually from day one.

Unless location constraints make Florida Education Institute the only viable option, parents should explore alternatives. Several community colleges and technical schools across Florida offer HVAC programs with proven track records of placing graduates into higher-paying positions, and that earnings gap compounds significantly over a career.