by our College Data Analytics Team
[Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/environmental-control-technology/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-engineering-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Oxnard College earned the #1 spot for value among heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools in California. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Fresno City College one of the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $7,234. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mt San Antonio College earned it the #4 place for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,384. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician will find it at Imperial Valley College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $42,617. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
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Gavilan College earned the #6 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,508, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Students borrow a median of $5,939 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Gavilan College generally make around $28,496. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College earned the #7 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,767 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $48,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sacramento City College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Sacramento City College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,180 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $46,522 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butte College placed #9 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,356 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College placed #10 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Merced College landed the #11 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,024. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Merced College generally make around $45,032. Set against $9,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Coast College landed the #12 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,392 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Bakersfield College came in at #13 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,430, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,419. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. Set against $9,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Camino Community College District placed #14 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. El Camino Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of Torrance. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,144, compared with $7,630 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,589.
Palomar College came in at #15 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,354, while out-of-state students pay about $10,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,300 ten years after entry.
Chaffey College placed #16 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,184, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Set against $6,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Foothill College earned the #17 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,565, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,595 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. That is a strong return on a $11,595 median debt.
San Bernardino Valley College placed #18 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,196 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,528. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from San Bernardino Valley College generally make around $69,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Antelope Valley College placed #19 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,124, while out-of-state students pay about $9,548. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,729 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Antelope Valley College earn a median of $50,744 early in their careers. Set against $10,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College placed #20 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College placed #21 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Los Angeles Trade Technical College earn a median of $43,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,833 median debt.
West Hills College Coalinga placed #22 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the town of Coalinga, West Hills College Coalinga is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,384, compared with $10,954 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,920. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from West Hills College Coalinga generally make around $41,726. Set against $9,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Desert landed the #23 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. Students from in state pay about $1,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,174 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Set against $7,826 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Laney College placed #24 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Oakland, Laney College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,898. Median earnings reach $37,282 ten years out.
San Jose City College placed #25 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose City College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,366, compared with $11,922 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from San Jose City College generally make around $23,253.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician:
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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.