Heating & Air Conditioning at Minnesota State Community and Technical College
with a smaller student body of 2,875 in Fergus Falls, MN.
Program Analysis
At $46,285 per year, Heating & Air Conditioning graduates from Minnesota State Community and Technical College significantly outpace the $36,779 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 113.4x 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 28% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $5,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.
At #11 of 260 nationally, this is a top-5% Heating & Air Conditioning program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $46,285 to $62,937 over five years — a 36% 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.