Heating & Air Conditioning at Advanced Technology Institute

Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit · Associate Degree · Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

Advanced Technology Institute accepts 61% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 377 in Virginia Beach, VA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,724 track close to the $36,779 national median for Heating & Air Conditioning programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 20.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 11% of job tasks, producing a 32% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At #178 out of 260 programs, Advanced Technology Institute's financial outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,724 to $54,045 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 15 registered apprenticeships mapped to Heating & Air Conditioning, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

47 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
43
Low End
47
Score
47
High End
Earnings $37,724/yr (3% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (40,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$584K
9.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
20.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
1 of 1
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$29,136
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,045
43% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers $59,810 +8.1% 89%
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
$59,810
+8.1% growth 89% AI-proof

About Heating & Air Conditioning Careers

Your career in HVACR begins with your hands on the tools. As an apprentice, you’ll work alongside a senior technician, learning to use pressure gauges on a residential AC unit or a multimeter to diagnose a faulty furnace circuit board in a chilly basement. Soon, you'll be driving the service van, independently tackling everything from routine maintenance to emergency repairs on commercial rooftops. This is skilled, physical work that requires you to be on-site—it can’t be automated or outsourced.

Read the full Heating & Air Conditioning career guide →

Compare & Explore

Heating & Air Conditioning Overview

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Advanced Technology Institute's Heating & Air Conditioning program score?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Heating & Air Conditioning jobs?
Highly resilient. Heating & Air Conditioning careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 1 of 1 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates?
There are 15 registered apprenticeships connected to Heating & Air Conditioning occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →