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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration, no school beat Hennepin Technical College this year. Hennepin Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of about $67,822 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration will find them at South Central College, which ranked #2. South Central College is a public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from South Central College typically earn about $65,767 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at St Cloud Technical And Community College earned it the #3 place for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,498.
Strong graduate earnings at Kirkwood Community College earned it the #4 place for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Kirkwood Community College is a public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,033.
Students chasing top earnings in heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration will find them at Johnson County Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Johnson County Community College make a median of around $66,809 per year.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College earned the #6 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,937.
Century College came in at #7 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Century College is a public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Century College earn a median of about $75,499 a year early in their careers.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #8 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a public institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of about $52,345 a year early in their careers.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College typically earn about $52,079 annually.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,261.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City make a median of around $60,480 per year.
Northland Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Set in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College typically earn about $49,868 annually.
Pinnacle Career Institute South Kansas City landed the #13 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Pinnacle Career Institute South Kansas City is a private for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Pinnacle Career Institute South Kansas City typically earn about $49,438 annually.
North Central Kansas Technical College landed the #14 spot for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from North Central Kansas Technical College typically earn about $48,887 annually.
Dunwoody College Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Dunwoody College Of Technology make a median of around $75,444 per year.
American Trade School came in at #16 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Ann, American Trade School is a private for-profit institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of American Trade School earn a median of about $52,105 a year early in their careers.
Manhattan Area Technical College earned the #17 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Manhattan Area Technical College is a public school located in the city of Manhattan. Students who complete the heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,420.
Southeast Community College Area ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Southeast Community College Area is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Southeast Community College Area make a median of around $60,687 per year.
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a public institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Kansas City Kansas Community College earn a median of about $43,010 a year early in their careers.
Linn State Technical College earned the #20 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Linn State Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Linn. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from Linn State Technical College typically earn about $57,261 annually.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #21 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a public institution. Early-career heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduates from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College make a median of around $39,493 per year.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #22 for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a public institution. Heating Air Conditioning Ventilation Refrigeration graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of about $42,542 a year early in their careers.
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #23 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech 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 $36,401.
East Central College earned the #24 position for heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Union, East Central College is a public institution. After graduating, heating air conditioning ventilation refrigeration degree recipients from East Central College typically earn about $36,118 annually.
The ranking above is published 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 · 24 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.