Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at University of Northwestern Ohio

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing significantly year to year. That said, what's visible suggests a technically competent HVAC program that's neither bargain-priced nor especially expensive by trade school standards.

Northwestern Ohio's graduates earn right at the state median ($42,690 versus Ohio's $42,690), which places them in the 60th percentile among the five Ohio schools offering this credential. That's solid middle-of-the-pack performance. The $13,084 debt load matches the state median exactly but sits in the 70th percentile nationally—meaning 70% of HVAC programs nationwide leave students with less debt. For context, the national median debt is $17,500, so Northwestern Ohio is $4,400 below that benchmark. The 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly four months of their first-year salary, which is manageable territory for a skilled trade.

The 12% earnings bump from year one to year four ($42,690 to $47,996) is respectable but not exceptional for HVAC, where experience and licensure typically drive steady income growth. If this were your child's chosen path, the numbers work—just understand you're paying slightly more than some Ohio alternatives for average outcomes. The real question is whether Northwestern Ohio offers placement support, manufacturer certifications, or industry connections that justify the middle-tier cost structure, details these earnings figures alone can't answer.