by our College Data Analytics Team
[Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the early-career earnings of their heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration, no school beat Brownson Technical School this year. Set in the city of Anaheim, Brownson Technical School is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Brownson Technical School typically earn about $56,357 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Institute For Business And Technology earned it the #2 place for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Set in the city of San Jose, Institute For Business And Technology is a private for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Institute For Business And Technology make a median of around $68,881 per year.
A rank of #3 makes National Career Education one of the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. National Career Education is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Citrus Heights. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from National Career Education typically earn about $68,881 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at San Joaquin Valley College Lancaster earned it the #4 place for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. San Joaquin Valley College Lancaster is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from San Joaquin Valley College Lancaster make a median of around $67,788 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at San Joaquin Valley College Hesperia earned it the #5 place for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Located in the suburb of Hesperia, San Joaquin Valley College Hesperia is a private for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from San Joaquin Valley College Hesperia make a median of around $67,337 per year.
San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center came in at #6 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fresno, San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Trades Education Center typically earn about $67,024 annually.
San Joaquin Valley College Temecula placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Located in the city of Temecula, San Joaquin Valley College Temecula is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Temecula typically earn about $66,971 annually.
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia came in at #8 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Visalia, San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Visalia typically earn about $66,961 annually.
San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield landed the #9 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a private for-profit school located in the city of Bakersfield. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield make a median of around $66,383 per year.
San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage earned the #10 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Mirage, San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage typically earn about $66,032 annually.
San Joaquin Valley College Ontario placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Located in the city of Ontario, San Joaquin Valley College Ontario is a private for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from San Joaquin Valley College Ontario make a median of around $65,793 per year.
Capstone College landed the #12 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Capstone College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Capstone College make a median of around $59,207 per year.
Dehart Technical School landed the #13 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Modesto, Dehart Technical School is a private for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Dehart Technical School make a median of around $43,927 per year.
Institute Of Technology Inc landed the #14 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Institute Of Technology Inc is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Clovis. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Institute Of Technology Inc earn a median of about $44,857 a year early in their careers.
Intercoast Colleges West Covina came in at #15 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Intercoast Colleges West Covina is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Covina. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Intercoast Colleges West Covina earn a median of about $45,750 a year early in their careers.
Cet Coachella came in at #16 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Cet Coachella is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coachella. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Cet Coachella earn a median of about $48,636 a year early in their careers.
Cet Colton came in at #17 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Cet Colton is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Colton. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,636.
Cet San Jose earned the #18 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Jose, Cet San Jose is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Cet San Jose typically earn about $48,636 annually.
Mayfield College earned the #19 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Cathedral City, Mayfield College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,585.
United Education Institute Anaheim came in at #20 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Garden Grove, United Education Institute Anaheim is a private for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from United Education Institute Anaheim make a median of around $33,444 per year.
United Education Institute Chula Vista landed the #21 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, United Education Institute Chula Vista is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,444.
United Education Institute Encino landed the #22 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. United Education Institute Encino is a private for-profit school located in the city of Reseda. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,444.
United Education Institute Huntington Park Campus came in at #23 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. United Education Institute Huntington Park Campus is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Huntington Park. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,444.
United Education Institute Ontario came in at #24 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. United Education Institute Ontario is a private for-profit school located in the city of Ontario. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of United Education Institute Ontario earn a median of about $33,444 a year early in their careers.
United Education Institute Uei College San Marcos ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. United Education Institute Uei College San Marcos is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Oceanside. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of United Education Institute Uei College San Marcos earn a median of about $33,444 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 32 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.