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

UEI College-Oceanside's HVAC program delivers modest earnings that fall below both national and California benchmarks, but does so with exceptionally manageable debt. Graduates earn $33,444 in their first year—about $2,300 less than the national median and nearly $5,000 below California's median of $38,137. Among California's 44 HVAC programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, meaning most in-state alternatives offer better earning potential.

However, the debt story is compelling. At $9,500, students graduate with exactly California's median debt level and slightly below the national average. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, which is quite reasonable for a technical certificate program. While the program ranks in the 75th percentile nationally for debt (meaning debt levels are higher than ideal), the absolute amount remains very manageable compared to many college programs.

The key concern is the earnings gap—California's top HVAC programs produce graduates earning $10,000+ more annually than UEI's. Given that HVAC is a skilled trade with strong job prospects, your child might benefit more from pursuing this field at higher-performing California schools like DeHart Technical School ($43,927 median earnings) or San Joaquin Valley College locations. The modest debt advantage at UEI doesn't compensate for the significant long-term earnings difference in a field where higher-paying opportunities clearly exist within the state.