2026 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is El Centro College, our #1 best value for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,557 median debt.
St Philips College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician will find it at Central Arizona College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,250, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,635 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $48,826. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $11,627. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician will find it at Midland College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Tarrant County College District placed #6 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $45,158. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District came in at #7 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $47,052 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
Laredo Community College landed the #8 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 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 Laredo Community College generally make around $31,037. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Vernon College placed #9 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,720, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,513 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 Vernon College generally make around $45,097. That is a strong return on a $12,513 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, while out-of-state students pay about $12,924. Students borrow a median of $14,278 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 $50,068. Set against $14,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Howard College earned the #11 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Howard College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Big Spring. In-state tuition and fees average $2,766, while out-of-state students pay about $6,716. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $14,242. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Howard College earn a median of $41,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,242 median debt.
Collin County Community College District placed #12 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,716. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $42,177. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Students from in state pay about $7,212 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,959 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $35,442. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi landed the #14 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $13,000 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 South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi generally make around $32,364. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute San Antonio came in at #15 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute San Antonio is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of South Texas Vocational Technical Institute San Antonio earn a median of $32,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt.
Southern Careers Institute Harlingen came in at #16 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Harlingen, Southern Careers Institute Harlingen is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,500. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $32,421. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Mcallen landed the #17 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Mcallen is a small private for-profit institution. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,139 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Mcallen earn a median of $25,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arizona Automotive Institute came in at #18 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Arizona Automotive Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Glendale. Students borrow a median of $13,491 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Arizona Automotive Institute earn a median of $34,432 early in their careers. Set against $13,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Careers Institute Austin landed the #19 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Southern Careers Institute Austin is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Southern Careers Institute Austin generally make around $32,421. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Edge Tech Academy placed #20 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Edge Tech Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Arlington. Students borrow a median of $9,310 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 $31,924. Set against $9,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cybertex Institute Of Technology ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Cybertex Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $12,365. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Cybertex Institute Of Technology generally make around $37,279.
Southern Careers Institute San Antonio Nw Loop ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Southern Careers Institute San Antonio Nw Loop is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Southern Careers Institute San Antonio Nw Loop earn a median of $32,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Lincoln College Of Technology Grand Prairie earned the #23 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Grand Prairie, Lincoln College Of Technology Grand Prairie is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $14,553. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Lincoln College Of Technology Grand Prairie generally make around $40,778. That is a strong return on a $14,553 median debt.
Narrow Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools by State
[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.
