Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Stautzenberger College-Maumee

Stautzenberger College's HVAC program presents a clear picture: manageable debt with below-average earnings potential. At $13,730, graduates leave with less debt than most HVAC programs—just 5th percentile nationally—but their first-year earnings of $33,403 fall short of both Ohio's median ($36,981) and the national benchmark ($35,749). Among Ohio's 32 HVAC programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten comparable programs deliver stronger starting salaries. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 is reasonable, but graduates are starting about $3,600 behind their Ohio peers annually.

The gap becomes starker when comparing to Ohio's top performers: Butler Technology graduates earn $41,108—nearly $8,000 more in year one. With three-quarters of students receiving Pell grants, Stautzenberger serves a financially vulnerable population, making that earnings gap particularly consequential. An extra $8,000 annually translates to faster debt payoff and stronger financial footing during the critical early career years.

For families prioritizing minimal debt, this program delivers. But if your child can access one of Ohio's higher-performing HVAC programs—particularly the career and technical schools leading the state—they'll likely see better returns on similar training time. The modest debt advantage doesn't offset starting thousands below market rate in a field where earnings are relatively standardized.