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Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Refrigeration Program’s Industry Appeal, Graduate Income Potential Among Nation’s Best

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Ferris State University's Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration program has received high praise from Knowinsiders, an international online clearinghouse for higher education and other subject areas.

Knowinsiders, an international online clearinghouse for higher education and other subject areas, ranks Ferris State University’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program among the nation’s most prestigious schools offering certificates and degrees in this high-demand field.

Ferris has one of the country’s few Bachelor of Science degree programs in HVACR, which is acknowledged in Knowinsider’s roster of public universities, private technical institutes, and for-profit operations. Joe Pacella is an associate professor in Ferris’ HVACR program, in the School of Built Environment. Pacella, an alumnus of both the Associate of Applied Science program and Bachelor of Science for HVACR said major corporations in their industry hold Ferris and its graduates in the highest regard.

“No matter how many students we graduate each year, it does not meet the industry's demand for talent,” Pacella said. “We are approaching 20 years of offering a Bachelor of Science degree through online instruction in addition to our on campus curriculum, that received accreditation in 1986. Our associate degree program was established in 1945, so we enjoy a niche status in our field which has always afforded alumni an excellent return on their educational investment.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the HVACR industry’s demand for technicians and system designers will require more than 20,000 professionals across the decade ending in 2030. Pacella said the program’s alumni are reporting great success finding opportunities and advancing to roles where $100,000 salaries are offered for their services.

“Ferris students are often the first choice for employers, as our degree provides them the skill set to deliver in development of commercial and industrial projects,” Pacella said. “A Bachelor of Science alumni can achieve high-salary assignments within several years of entering the field. Either the Associate or Bachelor's degree alumni are in high demand, with many employers incentivizing employees with consistent overtime being paid to keep up with construction."

Knowinsiders highlighted Ferris’ combination of laboratory instruction and coursework as characteristics worthy of inclusion in its Top 20 Most Prestigious Schools report.

Click HVACR for more information about Ferris’ academic programs.