2027 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in Texas
[Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/environmental-control-technology/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-engineering-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in Texas
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
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools in Texas. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $14,557 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes St Philips College one of the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. 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.
A rank of #3 makes Tarrant County College District one of 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,180, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,000. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Austin Community College District one of the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,519 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 Austin Community College District generally make around $47,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College earned the #6 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. 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. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $42,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laredo Community College placed #7 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Laredo Community College is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 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 $31,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Howard College came in at #8 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Big Spring, Howard College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,766, with out-of-state students paying around $6,716. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $14,242. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $41,039. Set against $14,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State Technical College placed #10 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,959 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Texas State Technical College earn a median of $35,442 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vernon College earned the #11 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Vernon College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Vernon. Students from in state pay about $3,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,513 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Vernon College earn a median of $45,097 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,513 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $14,278. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,068 early in their careers. Set against $14,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Brownsville landed the #13 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Brownsville, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Brownsville 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 Brownsville earn a median of $32,364 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Mcallen placed #14 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Mcallen is a small private for-profit university. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $32,364. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute San Antonio ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute San Antonio 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. 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.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi placed #16 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. South Texas Vocational Technical Institute Corpus Christi is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Students borrow a median of $13,000 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 $32,364. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edge Tech Academy ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Edge Tech Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Arlington. 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 Edge Tech Academy generally make around $32,364. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Careers Institute Harlingen landed the #18 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Southern Careers Institute Harlingen is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Harlingen. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Southern Careers Institute Harlingen earn a median of $32,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Southern Careers Institute Austin came in at #19 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Southern Careers Institute Austin is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. 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 Austin earn a median of $32,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Southern Careers Institute San Antonio Nw Loop came in at #20 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln College Of Technology Grand Prairie came in at #21 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Grand Prairie, Lincoln College Of Technology Grand Prairie is a mid-sized private for-profit university. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
