2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in Virginia
[Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-and-refrigeration-maintenance-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 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Virginia Highlands Community College the best value for a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Abingdon, Virginia Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,022, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,490 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $33,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Wytheville Community College one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician. Set in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $40,973. Set against $9,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician will find it at Eastern Shore Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Melfa, Eastern Shore Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,418 ten years after entry.
Central Virginia Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,384 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $32,309. That is a strong return on a $10,384 median debt.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $40,629. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
John Tyler Community College came in at #6 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
New River Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Dublin, New River Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,979, with out-of-state students paying around $11,417. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,132 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $46,892. Set against $13,132 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southside Virginia Community College came in at #8 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alberta. In-state tuition and fees average $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Students borrow a median of $7,467 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Southside Virginia Community College generally make around $29,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mountain Empire Community College came in at #9 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Mountain Empire Community College earn a median of $36,988 early in their careers. Set against $9,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Danville Community College placed #10 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,992, compared with $11,430 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,494 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Danville Community College earn a median of $44,922 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tidewater Community College landed the #11 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician value this year. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,001 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $35,627. That is a strong return on a $14,001 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College earned the #12 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,413 median debt.
Advanced Technology Institute landed the #13 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Advanced Technology Institute is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,568. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,905 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Advanced Technology Institute generally make around $38,243. Set against $15,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Fortis College Richmond came in at #14 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Richmond, Fortis College Richmond is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,688. Students borrow a median of $10,649 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Fortis College Richmond generally make around $32,955. Set against $10,649 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cet Alexandria placed #15 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician. Cet Alexandria is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Alexandria. Students borrow a median of $6,160 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician graduates make about $35,970. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tidewater Tech Trades ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Tech Trades is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,337 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician degree recipients from Tidewater Tech Trades generally make around $30,448. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Centura College Newport News placed #17 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration maintenance technology/technician. Set in the city of Newport News, Centura College Newport News is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,637. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/technician graduates of Centura College Newport News earn a median of $29,395 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
More Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician Rankings
View All Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
