Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

Based on comparable HVAC programs nationally, this certificate appears to follow a fairly standard pattern: around $35,700 in first-year earnings against roughly $10,500 in debt. That 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates would dedicate about three and a half months of their first year's income to paying off what they borrowed—a manageable scenario for a skilled trade credential. The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates since Spartan's actual graduate outcomes aren't publicly reported, meaning you can't verify whether this specific program delivers on the national averages.

What makes this trickier is context. HVAC technicians in Colorado can earn solid money—the field generally offers stable demand and clear career progression as you gain certifications and experience. But Spartan's low Pell grant percentage (just 10% of students) raises questions about whether this private institution serves a significantly different student population than typical HVAC programs, and whether that $10,500 debt figure truly reflects what most students here will face. Private trade schools sometimes carry higher costs than community colleges offering identical credentials.

The bottom line: If your child is set on HVAC work, compare this program's actual total cost against what Colorado's community colleges charge for the same certificate. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but you need the real price tag before committing—and ideally, some testimony from recent Spartan graduates about their job placement and starting wages in the Denver market.