Heating & Air Conditioning at Century College
with a mid-sized student body of 5,971 in White Bear Lake, MN.
Program Analysis
Century College Heating & Air Conditioning graduates command $52,105/yr out of the gate, well above the $36,779 national median. That 42% premium suggests the program's industry reputation carries real labor-market weight.
With a 66.2x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
Career paths for Heating & Air Conditioning carry above-average AI exposure (11% of tasks). The 33% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $10,500 in median debt clears fast against $52,105 in annual earnings.
Century College ranks #29 among 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 45% earnings increase from $52,105 to $75,499 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
The 15 apprenticeship pathways connected to Heating & Air Conditioning reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.
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.