Heating & Air Conditioning at Dorsey College-Wayne
with a smaller student body of 203 in Wayne, MI.
Program Analysis
Dorsey College-Wayne's Heating & Air Conditioning program produces graduates earning $33,265/yr — within striking distance of the $36,779 national average for this trade.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 13.8x 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 21% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,500 in median debt clears fast against $33,265 in annual earnings.
Ranked #238 of 260 Heating & Air Conditioning programs, Dorsey College-Wayne falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $33,265 to $42,330 over five years — a 27% 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.