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2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #1 spot for value among heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools in the Great Lakes Region. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $11,149. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, landing the #2 spot this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $6,292 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $28,504. That is a strong return on a $6,292 median debt.
Elgin Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $24,513 early in their careers. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration will find it at Joliet Junior College, which ranked #5. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
ADBLOCK #101
Ivy Tech Community College placed #6 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $6,595. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $49,297. That is a strong return on a $6,595 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College earned the #7 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,504, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $9,939 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $39,659. That is a strong return on a $9,939 median debt.
Harper College earned the #8 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $10,963. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $44,523. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College came in at #9 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $48,264. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
Prairie State College came in at #10 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakton Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County earned the #12 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #13 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
Gateway Technical College landed the #14 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $42,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #15 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,112, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #16 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Kaskaskia College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $45,658. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #18 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #19 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $38,325. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #20 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $16,595 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $46,398. That is a strong return on a $16,595 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #21 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Set against $14,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Auburn Career Center placed #22 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the suburb of Concord Twp, Auburn Career Center is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $10,807 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Median earnings reach $37,032 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirtland Community College landed the #23 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the rural area of Grayling, Kirtland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $17,333 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Kirtland Community College generally make around $50,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $42,963 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mid State Technical College placed #25 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $11,626. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. Set against $11,626 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value ranking:
Narrow Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools by State
[Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration education at a price that pays off.
