Heating & Air Conditioning at Fortis College-Columbia
a smaller institution with 513 students in Columbia, SC.
Program Analysis
At $35,785/yr, Heating & Air Conditioning graduates from Fortis College-Columbia land near the $36,779 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 31.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Heating & Air Conditioning programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Heating & Air Conditioning's career paths, with 11% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $13,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.
Ranked #169 of 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, Fortis College-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $35,785 to $43,961 over five years — a 23% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.
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.