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

Fortis College-Montgomery's HVAC program lands right at Alabama's median for the field, but trails the national median by about $3,700 annually—placing it in just the 27th percentile nationally. That gap matters when you're building a skilled trades career, though the picture within Alabama itself looks more balanced, with this program hitting the 60th percentile statewide.

The debt load tells a more positive story. At $13,000, students here borrow slightly more than the national median but face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about five months of gross earnings. With 84% of students receiving Pell grants, the relatively modest debt burden is significant for a population that often faces financial constraints. The minimal earnings growth from year one to year four ($32,004 to $32,552) suggests graduates establish their earning potential quickly but shouldn't expect major salary progression from the credential alone.

For Alabama families, this program delivers reasonable value: competitive in-state earnings with below-average debt risk. The catch is that HVAC technicians at sister Fortis campuses in Birmingham and Dothan earn $4,000-$4,500 more annually, suggesting location within Alabama significantly impacts outcomes. If your student can access those markets, they might achieve better returns on similar training.