Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Washtenaw Community College

In the skilled trades, HVAC programs can produce dramatically different outcomes depending on local demand and program quality. While this specific program lacks reported graduate data, comparable two-year HVAC programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $41,400 with typical debt near $12,000—a debt load that represents just three months of gross income. That's a manageable starting point for a field where experienced technicians often earn substantially more as they build client relationships and specialize in commercial systems.

The challenge is that national figures don't tell you much about Ann Arbor's particular market or how well Washtenaw prepares students for Michigan's licensing requirements and local contractor networks. HVAC earnings vary widely by region—climate, construction activity, and union presence all matter—and you're working with estimates here rather than this school's actual track record. The estimated debt is lower than the national median for these programs ($17,500), which is encouraging, but without knowing how Washtenaw's graduates actually fare in Michigan's market, you're making assumptions about local job placement and starting wages.

If your child is mechanically inclined and committed to the trades, HVAC offers solid long-term prospects—but verify what employers in the Ann Arbor area actually pay entry-level technicians and whether Washtenaw has strong relationships with local contractors who hire graduates. The debt-to-earnings estimate looks reasonable, but actual outcomes depend heavily on factors these national comparisons can't capture.