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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region

4 Colleges in the United States
$13,472 Avg Student Debt
$39,450 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Badge [Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/environmental-control-technology/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-engineering-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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.

Best Value Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician Schools

1
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI

Leading the list is Oakland Community College, our #1 best value for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician program here. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Macomb Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Students looking for strong value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician will find it at Stark State College, which ranked #3. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,349 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 Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4

A rank of #4 makes Mott Community College one of the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $20,645. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Mott Community College earn a median of $37,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

Columbus State Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,041. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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6

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #6 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.

7
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University came in at #7 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $11,000. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $48,795 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.

8

Terra State Community College placed #8 among the best values for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician. Terra State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fremont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,544. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $24,070 in student loans. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Terra State Community College earn a median of $63,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,070 median debt.

9
Polaris Career Center crest
Polaris Career Center
Middleburg Heights, OH

Polaris Career Center earned the #9 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights, Polaris Career Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $6,365. Early-career heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates make about $37,480. Set against $6,365 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10

Portage Lakes Career Center earned the #10 position for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Portage Lakes Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Uniontown. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,316.

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11

Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Il landed the #11 spot for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Il is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,500 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 Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Il generally make around $31,905. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Northwestern Technological Institute came in at #12 for value in heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Southfield, Northwestern Technological Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for heating, ventilation, air conditioning & refrigeration engineering technology/technician graduates is $9,500. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Northwestern Technological Institute earn a median of $36,015 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 24 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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