Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia charges premium debt for this HVAC program—$13,000 versus the California median of $9,500—but the investment appears to pay off. First-year graduates earn $40,368, which places them in the 75th percentile nationally and 60th percentile among California HVAC programs. More importantly, earnings jump 28% by year four to $51,812, suggesting graduates develop marketable skills that command higher pay as they gain experience. The 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than four months of their starting salary, a manageable burden for a skilled trade.

The premium pricing makes more sense when you consider the outcomes: this program outperforms 75% of similar programs nationwide and beats California's median by about $2,200 in starting salary. Among the state's top HVAC programs, only DeHart Technical School produces notably higher earners. Nearly half the student body receives Pell grants, and the program serves them well—technical training with strong earnings growth and relatively low debt makes for solid economic mobility.

For families weighing community college versus for-profit options, this program delivers competitive outcomes at moderate cost. The debt is higher than bare-bones alternatives, but the earnings trajectory justifies it. If your student wants to enter HVAC work quickly with credentials that lead to above-average pay, this program does what it promises.