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

UEI College-Stockton's HVAC program delivers solid debt management but falls short on earnings compared to both state and national standards. At $33,444 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $5,000 less than the California median and $2,300 below the national average for this field. Among California HVAC programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile—meaning 60% of similar programs in the state produce higher-earning graduates.

The program's strength lies in keeping debt reasonable at $9,500, matching the California median and sitting below the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, graduates can realistically manage their loans—this represents less than four months of gross income. However, the debt percentile ranking at 75th nationally suggests many comparable programs achieve even lower debt loads.

The earnings gap is meaningful when you consider top California programs like DeHart Technical School produce graduates earning $43,927—over $10,000 more annually. For an HVAC technician career that typically sees strong job growth and advancement potential, starting $5,000 below the state median could translate to significant lost lifetime earnings. While this program won't burden your child with excessive debt, they'd likely be better served by higher-performing California alternatives that offer stronger earning potential in the same timeframe.