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

Highland Community College's HVAC program lacks reported outcome data, so we're working with national estimates that suggest first-year earnings around $35,700 and debt near $9,300. That 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, but there's a significant gap worth noting: other Kansas programs report considerably stronger results, with graduates at Manhattan Area Technical College earning $39,100 and Kansas City Kansas Community College hitting $43,000—both roughly $3,500-$7,000 higher than the national baseline Highland's estimates derive from.

This disparity matters because HVAC is typically a stable, geographically consistent field. When peer programs in the same state consistently outperform national averages, it raises questions about whether Highland's training connects as effectively to the local labor market or employer networks. The estimated debt load is reasonable for a technical certificate, representing about three months of projected earnings, but you'd want that certificate opening doors to Kansas-level wages, not just national medians.

Before committing, contact Highland directly to understand their job placement rates and typical starting wages for recent graduates. If they can't provide concrete local outcomes—or if those outcomes don't approach what Manhattan Area Tech and Kansas City KCC deliver—consider whether those alternative programs are accessible. The difference between $35,700 and $43,000 is nearly $600 monthly, which compounds significantly over a career in the trades.