2027 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in Pennsylvania

[Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students.
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2027 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools
For return on investment in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, no school beat Westmoreland County Community College this year. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $37,439 ten years out. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delaware County Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $14,866 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. Set against $14,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Luzerne County Community College earned it the #3 place for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,600, with out-of-state students paying around $16,260. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $14,614. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Luzerne County Community College earn a median of $44,353 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,050. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $10,096. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $41,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology admits about 71% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Lehigh Carbon Community College one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $14,450. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,450 median debt.
Northampton County Area Community College placed #6 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $18,900. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $35,960. That is a strong return on a $18,900 median debt.
Community College Of Allegheny County ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $15,263. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $47,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Castle School Of Trades ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. New Castle School Of Trades is a small private for-profit school located in the town of New Castle. Students borrow a median of $9,219 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from New Castle School Of Trades generally make around $37,681. That is a strong return on a $9,219 median debt.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #9 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $20,867. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $41,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education earned the #10 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the suburb of York, York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education is a small public university. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $14,894 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education generally make around $47,870. That is a strong return on a $14,894 median debt.
Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center earned the #11 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the rural area of Johnstown, Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $17,690. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center earn a median of $38,904 early in their careers. Set against $17,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center placed #12 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the city of Altoona, Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $17,867 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $47,891. That is a strong return on a $17,867 median debt.
Yti Career Institute York earned the #13 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the suburb of York, Yti Career Institute York is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $9,212. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $44,157. That is a strong return on a $9,212 median debt.
Rosedale Technical Institute landed the #14 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, Rosedale Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,402. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $41,126. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Johnson College placed #15 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the city of Scranton, Johnson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,225. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $16,083 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Johnson College earn a median of $40,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
All State Career School Lester landed the #16 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Located in the suburb of Essington, All State Career School Lester is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from All State Career School Lester generally make around $33,283. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt.
Pennco Tech Bristol landed the #17 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the suburb of Bristol, Pennco Tech Bristol is a small private for-profit institution. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Pennco Tech Bristol generally make around $38,417. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
All State Career School Pittsburgh placed #18 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. All State Career School Pittsburgh is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Mifflin. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $30,110. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Penn Commercial Business Technical School earned the #19 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Penn Commercial Business Technical School is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,654. Students borrow a median of $12,067 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Penn Commercial Business Technical School generally make around $29,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Penn Commercial Business Technical School admits about 56% of applicants.
Orleans Technical Institute came in at #20 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Orleans Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,521 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Orleans Technical Institute earn a median of $37,848 early in their careers. Set against $7,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Fortis Institute Scranton came in at #21 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the city of Scranton, Fortis Institute Scranton is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,348. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $10,342 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Fortis Institute Scranton generally make around $30,823. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology came in at #22 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of $51,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.