2027 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast Region
[Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/environmental-control-technology/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-engineering-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 49 schools to find the best return on investment for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is George C Wallace State Community College Dothan, our #1 best value for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,980 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,942. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $34,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician will find it at Northwest Shoals Community College, which ranked #2. Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muscle Shoals. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,131, with out-of-state students paying around $9,001. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,312 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $33,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian River State College earned it the #3 place for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $44,082. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Pensacola State College one of the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, with out-of-state students paying around $9,463. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $45,811 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gadsden State Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gadsden. Students from in state pay about $4,272 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,368. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Gadsden State Community College earn a median of $36,407 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Florida Gateway College came in at #7 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,669 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $41,947. Set against $8,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bevill State Community College placed #8 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the town of Jasper, Bevill State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,734, compared with $8,346 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $11,040. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Bevill State Community College earn a median of $38,514 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,040 median debt.
Manatee Technical College earned the #9 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,726 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Manatee Technical College earn a median of $38,735 early in their careers. Set against $9,726 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus landed the #10 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,769 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus earn a median of $40,090 early in their careers. Set against $11,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Daytona State College landed the #11 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,227 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $43,320. That is a strong return on a $14,227 median debt.
Seminole State College Of Florida placed #12 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Students borrow a median of $18,419 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $48,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
H Councill Trenholm State Technical College earned the #13 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. H Councill Trenholm State Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,060. Median earnings reach $32,183 ten years out.
Palm Beach State College placed #14 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, with out-of-state students paying around $10,910. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,518 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $42,501 early in their careers. Set against $12,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Radford M Locklin Technical Center landed the #15 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the rural area of Milton, Radford M Locklin Technical Center is a small public institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,997.
South Dade Technical College South Dade Skills Center Campus placed #16 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the suburb of HOMESTEAD, South Dade Technical College South Dade Skills Center Campus is a small public university. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from South Dade Technical College South Dade Skills Center Campus generally make around $28,785.
Charlotte Technical College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Charlotte Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Port Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,110, while out-of-state students pay about $12,110. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Charlotte Technical College generally make around $36,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Technical Education Center Osceola came in at #18 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Kissimmee, Technical Education Center Osceola is a small public university. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,812 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $29,420. That is a strong return on a $10,812 median debt.
Santa Fe College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Gainesville, Santa Fe College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,563, compared with $9,189 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $17,558. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Santa Fe College generally make around $45,407. That is a strong return on a $17,558 median debt.
Lindsey Hopkins Technical College earned the #20 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Lindsey Hopkins Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Miami. Median earnings reach $34,107 ten years out.
Sheridan Technical College landed the #21 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Hollywood, Sheridan Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $7,698 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Sheridan Technical College generally make around $29,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville placed #22 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $9,090. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $13,146. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $40,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lorenzo Walker Technical College landed the #23 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Naples, Lorenzo Walker Technical College is a small public university. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Lorenzo Walker Technical College generally make around $36,815.
Marion Technical College Ocala placed #24 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Ocala, Marion Technical College Ocala is a small public institution. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $8,750. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Marion Technical College Ocala generally make around $31,100. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
Atlantic Technical College landed the #25 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Coconut Creek, Atlantic Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,222 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Atlantic Technical College earn a median of $33,146 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 49 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician:
Narrow Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools by State
More Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings
View All Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 49 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
