by our College Data Analytics TeamWhere would you be without centralized air conditioning or heating during the winter time? HVACR technicians serve an essential role in repairing and maintaining these systems. A major in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration prepares students with the technical skills to install, service, and repair these systems.
This major includes hands-on work with heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems. You will also work with computers and learn regulations and laws associated with these systems. Some of the classes associated with this major are: principles of refrigeration, residential and commercial air conditioning and heating systems, and electricity fundamentals. This major is commonly taken as an associate's degree and can be received as a certificate.
Studying Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration involves the study of Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation And Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician (Hac, Hacr, Hvac, Hvacr). Continue reading for the important information every heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration programs.
In the U.S., heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration draws strong interest, with 23,253 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools ranking analyzes these 597 schools to determine the best overall colleges for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration programs later in this article.
Studies in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates commonly enter.
If you love DIY projects and fixing things around the house, this might be a great major for you. Students will work to solve problems and find creative solutions for repairs and installation complications. Teamwork is an essential part of this major; you will often work with others on group projects. The ability to accurately relay information to others and take feedback is necessary for success in your studies and career.
Most programs require an apprenticeship in order to gain work experience and to learn the fundamentals first hand. This is a great opportunity for learning and finding out what work in the field is like.
The skill set built by a heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration 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 | 11,842 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,256 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,836 |
People currently working in careers related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 68.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 20.2% |
| Some college courses | 6.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates with a degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration can enter into a few different careers. You could become a home appliance repairmen and work installing and repairing household appliances. A possibly more lucrative career is to become a HVAC installation and repair professional. These professionals manage, install, and repair systems that regulate temperature. Other jobs graduates go into are engineering technicians or industrial machinery repairmen.
Studying heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 211,463 | 11.3% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,403 |
| 4 years | $40,200 |
| 5 years | $44,951 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $66,308 |
With 597 different heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration school rankings to help you.
Students interested in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician | 23,253 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
