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

Lincoln Land's HVAC program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: below-average initial earnings for what should be a practical trade credential, though students graduate with very little debt. The $28,504 first-year salary trails the national median by over $7,000 and falls $5,000 short of Illinois' typical HVAC graduate. While this program lands at the 40th percentile statewide—middle of the pack—it ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, suggesting something isn't clicking compared to top-performing programs. For context, HVAC Technical Institute in Illinois places graduates earning nearly $42,000 initially.

The saving grace is minimal debt—just $6,292, well below both state and national averages—keeping the debt burden manageable even with lower earnings. Graduates do see 25% income growth by year four, reaching $35,573, which approaches typical starting points elsewhere. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, making it difficult to gauge program consistency.

For parents considering this program, the question is whether starting behind financially—even without much debt—makes sense when stronger Illinois alternatives exist nearby. If Lincoln Land offers geographic convenience or lower living costs, it's workable, but this isn't the program to choose if maximizing HVAC career earnings is the priority.