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

Maysville Community and Technical College delivers strong national value in HVAC training, but within Kentucky, it's a middle-tier option. Graduates earn $39,622 after one year—well above the national median of $35,749—yet fall short of the Kentucky state median of $41,374. This places the program at the 71st percentile nationally but only the 40th percentile among Kentucky programs, where stronger alternatives like Southcentral Kentucky ($46,451) and Owensboro ($44,899) exist.

The standout feature here is the extraordinarily low debt burden. At just $6,760, this is among the lowest debt loads in the country for HVAC programs (95th percentile), translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.17—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their entire debt with less than two months of earnings. This makes the program financially low-risk, even if the earnings potential doesn't match Kentucky's top performers.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) warrants caution—these numbers could shift significantly year to year. For families seeking an affordable entry into a stable trade with minimal debt exposure, Maysville works. But if your student can access programs like Southcentral Kentucky or Owensboro, the $7,000-per-year earnings difference adds up to over $200,000 across a 30-year career—worth considering even if it means slightly higher upfront costs.