by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology covers Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning And Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Basic Engineering Principles And Technical Skills In Support Of Engineers And Other Professionals Engaged In Developing And Using Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Ventilation, And Heating Systems. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Heating And Cooling Technology, Design And Operational Testing, Inspection And Maintenance Procedures, Installation And Operation Procedures, And Report Preparation. Examples: [Air Conditioning And Heating (Ach)], [Air Conditioning And Refrigeration (Acr)], [Air Conditioning, Heating And Refrigeration (Achr)], [Heating, Refrigeration And Air Conditioning (Hrac)], [Heating, Ventilation, And Air Conditioning (Hvac)], [Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning And Refrigeration (Hvac/r)], [Air Conditioning Technology]. Continue reading for the key facts every heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology programs.
In the U.S., heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology is a popular field of study, with 9,397 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 180 schools to determine the best overall colleges for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4,212 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 679 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 18 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,473 |
People currently working in careers related to heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 36.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 21.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 19.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.0% |
| Some college courses | 6.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.9% |
| Master’s degree | 1.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 211,463 | 11.3% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,113 |
| 4 years | $40,833 |
| 5 years | $45,594 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $66,308 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
With 180 different heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
