by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 611 U.S. colleges awarded 28,286 degrees and certificates in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration. Certificates are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 488 schools in its 2027 Best Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,233 one year after completing, rising to $45,747 after four years.
Where would you be without centralized air conditioning or heating during the winter time? HVACR technicians serve an essential role in repairing and maintaining these systems. A major in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration prepares students with the technical skills to install, service, and repair these systems.
This major includes hands-on work with heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems. You will also work with computers and learn regulations and laws associated with these systems. Some of the classes associated with this major are: principles of refrigeration, residential and commercial air conditioning and heating systems, and electricity fundamentals. This major is commonly taken as an associate's degree and can be received as a certificate.
Studying Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration involves the study of Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation And Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician (Hac, Hacr, Hvac, Hvacr).
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration draws strong interest, with 28,286 degrees awarded annually. 611 colleges award heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees, an average of 46 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 560.
By level, the 28,286 awards include 15,389 certificates, 2,464 associate degrees and 9,993 master’s degrees.
Women earned 4% of heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,189 of 28,286). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (10,392) and Hispanic or Latino (7,429), and international students earned 114.
College Factual ranks 488 schools in its 2027 Best Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools ranking, including 85 for associate degrees. It also ranks heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools within 24 states. In all, 611 colleges offer heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration credential is the certificate: 15,389 of the 28,286 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration call most for Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking and Troubleshooting, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Building and Construction and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Near Vision and Deductive Reasoning.
If you love DIY projects and fixing things around the house, this might be a great major for you. Students will work to solve problems and find creative solutions for repairs and installation complications. Teamwork is an essential part of this major; you will often work with others on group projects. The ability to accurately relay information to others and take feedback is necessary for success in your studies and career.
Most programs require an apprenticeship in order to gain work experience and to learn the fundamentals first hand. This is a great opportunity for learning and finding out what work in the field is like.
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How long a heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 15,389 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,464 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9,993 |
Postsecondary certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, at 68.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 68.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 20.2% |
| Some college courses | 6.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration, with an average median salary of $66,308; the strongest outlook belongs to Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, at 11.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Furnace Gas Appliance Mechanic, Cooling Technician (Cooling Tech), HVAC Journeyman (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Journeyman) and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technician.
Graduates with a degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration can enter into a few different careers. You could become a home appliance repairmen and work installing and repairing household appliances. A possibly more lucrative career is to become a HVAC installation and repair professional. These professionals manage, install, and repair systems that regulate temperature. Other jobs graduates go into are engineering technicians or industrial machinery repairmen.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, at 211,463.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 211,463 | 11.3% |
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates earn a median $33,233 one year after completing their program, $45,747 after four years and $44,818 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,233 |
| 4 years | $45,747 |
| 5 years | $44,818 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, with a median salary of $66,308.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $66,308 |
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (28,286). It has 7 similar majors in the Mechanic & Repair Technologies field, which together award 108,603 degrees a year; the largest are Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General (81,624), Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (10,791) and Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (10,085). Browse all Mechanic & Repair Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | 28,286 |
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