Heating & Air Conditioning at Capstone College
with a smaller student body of 140 in Pasadena, CA.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $38,740 at Capstone College come in 5% above the national median of $36,779 for Heating & Air Conditioning programs.
The 38% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 11% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
With first-year pay of $38,740 far exceeding the $9,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #131 of 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, Capstone College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $59,207 show a 53% jump from the $38,740 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.
Heating & Air Conditioning offers 15 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
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% |
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.