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2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees they offer, see the list below.
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 Illinois. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration will find it at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $48,264. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $6,292 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $28,504. That is a strong return on a $6,292 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration will find it at Prairie State College, which ranked #4. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. In-state tuition and fees average $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #5 place for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
ADBLOCK #101
Elgin Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $24,513. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waubonsee Community College placed #7 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,504 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,939 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $39,659. Set against $9,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage placed #8 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College placed #9 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakton Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $7,750. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County placed #11 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $9,785. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Kaskaskia College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #13 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, 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.
Illinois Central College landed the #14 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $53,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College landed the #15 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,699. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $13,730. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $33,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
[Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
