Heating & Air Conditioning at Dorsey College
a compact campus enrolling 547 students in Madison Heights, MI.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $33,265 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 13.8x 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 risk is moderate — 11% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
At $9,500 in median debt against $33,265 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.
At #236 out of 260 programs, Dorsey College'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 $33,265 to $42,330 shows 27% 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.
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.