by our College Data Analytics Team
[Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the early-career earnings of their heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Cet Alexandria, our #1 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate salaries in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Alexandria, Cet Alexandria is a private not-for-profit institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Cet Alexandria earn a median of about $48,636 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration will find them at Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,629.
Northern Virginia Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration, landing the #3 spot this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,384.
Students chasing top earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration will find them at Advanced Technology Institute, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Advanced Technology Institute 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 $48,583.
Students chasing top earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration will find them at Tidewater Tech Trades, which ranked #5. Tidewater Tech Trades is a private for-profit school located in the city of Norfolk. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Tidewater Tech Trades make a median of around $43,957 per year.
Fortis College Norfolk ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Fortis College Norfolk is a private for-profit institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Fortis College Norfolk earn a median of about $38,095 a year early in their careers.
Fortis College Richmond earned the #7 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Richmond, Fortis College Richmond is a private for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Fortis College Richmond make a median of around $38,095 per year.
Centura College Newport News came in at #8 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Newport News, Centura College Newport News is a private for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Centura College Newport News make a median of around $29,395 per year.
Centura College Virginia Beach earned the #9 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Centura College Virginia Beach 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 $29,395.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 9 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.