Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES

For parents worried about technical training costs versus payoff, this HVAC program delivers exactly what they're looking for: strong earnings with minimal debt. At just $7,422 in typical debt—28% below the national average—graduates are entering the workforce at $42,145, placing them in the 85th percentile nationally. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18 means most graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in just two months of work.

While this program ranks at the 60th percentile among New York HVAC programs specifically, that comparison needs context. The state's top-earning program (Apex Technical School) pays $36,136—over $6,000 less than what OCM BOCES grads are making. This suggests OCM BOCES may have stronger employer partnerships or curriculum alignment with higher-paying specializations in the HVAC field, like commercial refrigeration or industrial systems. The 60% Pell grant enrollment also indicates this program is serving working-class students who need practical pathways to middle-income careers.

The modest 2% earnings growth to year four ($43,040) is typical for skilled trades where earning potential depends more on certifications, specializations, and entrepreneurship than tenure. The real value here is the combination of low debt burden and immediate earning power—graduates can start building wealth and experience from day one rather than spending years digging out of debt.