Heating & Air Conditioning at Fortis College-Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH · Private for-profit · Certificate · Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

a compact campus enrolling 403 students in Cincinnati, OH.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,785 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 31.9x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.

At $13,000 in median debt against $35,785 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #165 out of 260 programs, Fortis College-Cincinnati'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 $35,785 to $43,961 shows 23% 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.

48 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
48
Score
48
High End
Earnings $35,785/yr (-3% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (40,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$456K
5.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
31.9x
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
$14,283
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,961
23% 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

Heating & Air Conditioning at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fortis College-Cincinnati

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Fortis College-Cincinnati's Heating & Air Conditioning program score?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
How AI-proof is a career in Heating & Air Conditioning?
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.
Can I learn Heating & Air Conditioning through an apprenticeship instead?
Heating & Air Conditioning connects to 15 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →