WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+31% vs national median343 grads tracked

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at College Of DuPage

Ranked 4th of 60 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$51,452
middle 50%: $36,363 – $68,203
Median · 5 years out
$72,884
middle 50%: $51,576 – $97,170
Median · 10 years out
$70,527
middle 50%: $49,035 – $100,117

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of College Of DuPage's certificate (1-2 years) program in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) earn a median $51,452 one year after graduating, rising to $70,527 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 31% above the national median of $55,746 for this field, ranking 4th of 60 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,479 total interest

Same major at other universities

Moraine Valley Community College
$95,990 · 5 yrs out
Northern Virginia Community College
$77,691 · 5 yrs out
Triton College
$74,110 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
$71,441 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Century College
$67,675 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$66,850 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$66,338 · 5 yrs out
Waubonsee Community College
$65,698 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at College Of DuPage

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,399 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,399 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$96,190 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$87,221 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$86,855 · 5 yrs out
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection (Associate)
$86,086 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$81,833 · 5 yrs out
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications (Certificate)
$81,462 · 5 yrs out
Geography and Cartography (Certificate)
$80,415 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$80,258 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Certificate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out

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