2026 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/environmental-control-technology/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-engineering-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States 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
North Dakota State College Of Science earned the #1 spot for value among heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,974, with out-of-state students paying around $6,973. Students borrow a median of $15,706 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 $50,780. That is a strong return on a $15,706 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ranken Technical College earned it the #2 place for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Ranken Technical College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,008. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,392 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Ranken Technical College earn a median of $47,552 early in their careers. Set against $13,392 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita Technical Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Technical Institute 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 $37,895. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt.
Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Mo came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Mo is a small private for-profit institution. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Mo generally make around $31,905. Set against $9,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
