2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in Kentucky
[Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools.
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2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools
For return on investment in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, no school beat Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College this year. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $12,068 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $46,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Hazard Community And Technical College one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $12,212. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $25,094. That is a strong return on a $12,212 median debt.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, landing the #3 spot this year. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,687 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $35,946. Set against $9,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Somerset Community College earned it the #4 place for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $13,722 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $35,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,098 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $44,899. That is a strong return on a $9,098 median debt.
Hopkinsville Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,269 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $43,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from West Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $31,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #8 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,485 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $37,826. That is a strong return on a $13,485 median debt.
Maysville Community And Technical College earned the #9 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $6,760 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $39,622 early in their careers. Set against $6,760 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College came in at #10 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $12,245 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,486 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College earned the #11 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $10,985 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $41,084. Set against $10,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #12 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $8,799 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Gateway Community And Technical College generally make around $46,993. That is a strong return on a $8,799 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #13 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $41,731 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #14 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $11,584 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,460 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
