Heating & Air Conditioning at Fortis Institute-Lawrenceville

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

a smaller institution with 305 students in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Program Analysis

At $34,064/yr, Heating & Air Conditioning graduates from Fortis Institute-Lawrenceville land near the $36,779 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

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 29% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $11,538 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #170 of 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, Fortis Institute-Lawrenceville falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $34,064 to $46,888 over five years — a 38% 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.

48 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46
Low End
48
Score
48
High End
Earnings $34,064/yr (-7% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (89% shielded)
Job Market Large (40,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$501K
8.3% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$11,538
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,888
38% 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Fortis Institute-Lawrenceville'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 safe is Heating & Air Conditioning from automation?
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 →