by our College Data Analytics Team
[Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-and-refrigeration-maintenance-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician, no school beat Eastern Shore Community College this year. Located in the rural area of Melfa, Eastern Shore Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,418.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rappahannock Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the rural area of Glenns, Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,540. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates is $8,997. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Rappahannock Community College generally make around $43,398. That is a strong return on a $8,997 median debt.
Wytheville Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Wytheville Community College earn a median of $40,973 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,542 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southside Virginia Community College earned it the #5 place for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates is $7,467. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $29,666. Set against $7,467 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
John Tyler Community College came in at #6 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $36,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia Highlands Community College earned the #7 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Abingdon, Virginia Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,022 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,490 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Virginia Highlands Community College generally make around $33,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lord Fairfax Community College placed #8 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician. Set in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,072, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. Students borrow a median of $10,698 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Lord Fairfax Community College earn a median of $37,531 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,430. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,494 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $44,922. Set against $9,494 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Virginia Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates is $10,384. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $32,309. That is a strong return on a $10,384 median debt.
Mountain Empire Community College came in at #11 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Big Stone Gap. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $36,988. Set against $9,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Thomas Nelson Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,088, while out-of-state students pay about $11,526. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,402 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Thomas Nelson Community College earn a median of $36,758 early in their careers. Set against $14,402 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #13 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician value this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates is $14,413. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $40,126. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College came in at #14 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,001 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $35,627 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Advanced Technology Institute ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Advanced Technology Institute is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,568. Students borrow a median of $15,905 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Advanced Technology Institute earn a median of $38,243 early in their careers. Set against $15,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Advanced Technology Institute admits about 54% of applicants.
Fortis College Richmond earned the #16 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Fortis College Richmond is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,688. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates is $10,649. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $32,955. Set against $10,649 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Centura College Newport News placed #17 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician. Centura College Newport News is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Newport News. In-state tuition and fees average $16,637. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates is $14,750. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Centura College Newport News generally make around $29,395. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.