599 schools · federal data
HVAC schools compared
599 schools in our data award certificates or associate degrees in HVAC: 571 certificate programs and 231 associate programs. Graduates of the typical certificate program earned $42,090 a year after finishing and $47,821 four years after.
What counts: the Department of Education groups programs by field, and this field covers heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration technology.
Where HVAC graduates earn the most
Typical first-year earnings of certificate graduates, by state. Tap a state for its programs.
Certificate or associate degree?
| Certificate | Associate degree | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | 571 | 231 |
| Graduates in 2023-24 | 20,836 | 2,244 |
| Typical earnings 1 year after | $42,090 | $46,538 |
| Typical earnings 4 years after | $47,821 | $59,801 |
| Typical median debt | $9,500 | $14,167 |
Associate graduates in HVAC started out earning $4,448 more a year than certificate graduates, but an associate degree usually takes longer.
Highest-earning HVAC certificate programs
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings one year after graduation.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville, KY | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 73 | $64,072 | n/a | n/a |
| Century CollegeWhite Bear Lake, MN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 113 | $63,656 | $70,613 | $9,842 |
| Perry Technical InstituteYakima, WA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 35 | $58,367 | $83,230 | $17,146 |
| Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 127 | $57,081 | $80,039 | $8,250 |
| Emily Griffith Technical CollegeDenver, CO | Public technical school | Certificate | 31 | $56,238 | n/a | n/a |
| Motoring Technical Training InstituteSeekonk, MA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 87 | $55,863 | $64,367 | $9,500 |
| Northwest HVAC/R Training CenterSpokane, WA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 45 | $54,720 | $60,752 | $9,500 |
| Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 32 | $52,869 | $52,614 | n/a |
| Refrigeration School IncPhoenix, AZ | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 146 | $52,711 | $62,122 | $8,233 |
| Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville, SC | Public technical school | Certificate | 83 | $52,261 | $55,189 | n/a |
| Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake, WI | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 45 | $52,158 | $69,787 | n/a |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN | Community college | Certificate | 32 | $50,945 | $63,894 | $5,500 |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 109 | $50,607 | $62,956 | $9,444 |
| Institute for Business and TechnologySan Jose, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 129 | $50,558 | $57,714 | $8,867 |
| National Career EducationCitrus Heights, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 82 | $50,558 | $57,714 | $8,867 |
Highest-earning HVAC associate programs
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century CollegeWhite Bear Lake, MN | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 20 | $64,744 | $76,972 | n/a |
| Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 29 | $64,476 | $86,733 | $11,435 |
| Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyOkmulgee, OK | Community college | Associate degree | 46 | $63,206 | $68,072 | $12,000 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolis, MN | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 19 | $61,590 | $87,786 | n/a |
| Pennsylvania College of TechnologyWilliamsport, PA | Community college | Associate degree | 50 | $60,504 | $61,925 | $12,000 |
| Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis, MN | Private 2-year college | Associate degree | 25 | $58,007 | $75,499 | $12,000 |
| Southeast Community College AreaLincoln, NE | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 10 | $57,175 | $65,462 | $7,671 |
| Dallas CollegeDallas, TX | Community college | Associate degree | 18 | $53,020 | n/a | n/a |
| Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville, GA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 14 | $52,361 | $59,306 | n/a |
| Monroe Community CollegeRochester, NY | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | $51,784 | $57,305 | n/a |
| Hudson Valley Community CollegeTroy, NY | Community college | Associate degree | 39 | $51,533 | $64,515 | $8,195 |
| Intellitec College-Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, CO | For-profit trade school | Associate degree | 49 | $50,495 | $50,904 | $24,349 |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 25 | $50,166 | $63,100 | n/a |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyLancaster, PA | Community college | Associate degree | 36 | $49,867 | $61,610 | $12,000 |
| State Technical College of MissouriLinn, MO | Community college | Associate degree | 58 | $48,967 | $54,641 | $11,500 |
Largest HVAC programs
By number of graduates in 2023-24.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Arizona CollegeThatcher, AZ | Public technical school | Certificate | 359 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 346 | $48,661 | $56,064 | $5,250 |
| J F Ingram State Technical CollegeDeatsville, AL | Public technical school | Certificate | 338 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southern Technical CollegeOrlando, FL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 318 | $41,247 | $42,084 | $11,250 |
| UEI College-RiversideRiverside, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 269 | $40,234 | $43,528 | $9,500 |
| UEI College-FresnoFresno, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 210 | $36,787 | $37,597 | $9,500 |
| College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 204 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Tulsa Welding School-HoustonHouston, TX | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 203 | $41,120 | n/a | $9,235 |
| Charter CollegeAnchorage, AK | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 201 | $48,517 | $57,910 | $14,068 |
| Brownson Technical SchoolAnaheim, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 197 | n/a | $59,132 | n/a |
| Apex Technical SchoolLong Island City, NY | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 196 | $43,596 | $48,212 | $9,500 |
| Universal Technical Institute-CantonCanton, MI | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 194 | $40,744 | $52,372 | $9,000 |
| Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX | Community college | Certificate | 184 | n/a | $47,451 | n/a |
| ETI School of Skilled TradesWillowbrook, IL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 182 | $43,983 | $57,074 | $9,500 |
| NUC UniversityBayamon, PR | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 181 | $39,343 | $45,209 | $14,750 |
HVAC schools by state
Fewer than 3 schools: Hawaii (1), Montana (2), New Hampshire (1), Oregon (1), Rhode Island (1), Wyoming (1). See each state's trade school page.
Frequently asked questions
How many HVAC schools are there?
599 schools on the College Scorecard awarded at least one HVAC certificate or associate degree in the last two years we have data for: 571 certificate programs and 231 associate programs.
How much do HVAC program graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical HVAC certificate program earned a median of $42,090 one year after finishing and $47,821 four years after, in 2024 dollars. For associate degrees the one-year figure was $46,538. Pay varies a lot by school and state, so check the program tables.
Which HVAC program has the highest earnings?
Among certificate programs with at least 10 graduates, Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville, KY had the highest median earnings one year after graduation: $64,072.
How much debt do HVAC students take on?
At the typical certificate program, graduates who borrowed federal loans left with a median of $9,500. Many trade students borrow nothing, so check each school's net price and aid first.
Other trades: Welding · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.