Heating & Air Conditioning at Lone Star College System
with 47,486 students enrolled in The Woodlands, TX.
Program Analysis
At $32,070/yr, Heating & Air Conditioning graduates from Lone Star College System land near the $36,779 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 181.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Heating & Air Conditioning programs nationally.
The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 11% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Heating & Air Conditioning graduates.
At #34 of 260 nationally, this is a top-5% Heating & Air Conditioning program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $54,727 show a 71% jump from the $32,070 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.
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.