Heating & Air Conditioning at Fortis College-Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, UT · Private for-profit · Certificate · Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)

a smaller institution with 371 students in Salt Lake City, UT.

Program Analysis

Fortis College-Salt Lake City's Heating & Air Conditioning program produces graduates earning $37,139/yr — within striking distance of the $36,779 national average for this trade.

With a 32.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 9% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Heating & Air Conditioning involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,000 in median debt clears fast against $37,139 in annual earnings.

A #136 ranking among 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs places Fortis College-Salt Lake City in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $37,139 to $41,984 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

The 15 apprenticeship pathways connected to Heating & Air Conditioning reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

50 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
49
Low End
50
Score
50
High End
Earnings $37,139/yr (1% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (40,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$428K
3.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
32.6x
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
$13,112
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,984
13% 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 50/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Heating & Air Conditioning at Fortis College-Salt Lake City?
A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Fortis College-Salt Lake City trails the majority of Heating & Air Conditioning programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How safe is Heating & Air Conditioning from automation?
Heating & Air Conditioning rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 11% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
Can I learn Heating & Air Conditioning through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 15 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Heating & Air Conditioning career paths, including Air & Hydronic Balancing Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →