by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students.
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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.
For return on investment in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, no school beat Auburn Career Center this year. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,032 ten years after entry. Set against $10,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Great Oaks Career Campuses one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public university. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $8,152 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $36,172. That is a strong return on a $8,152 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the rural area of Jefferson, Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus is a small public institution. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $16,535. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus earn a median of $42,717 early in their careers. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration will find it at Buckeye Hills Career Center, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Rio Grande, Buckeye Hills Career Center is a small public institution. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $14,730 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Buckeye Hills Career Center generally make around $39,523. Set against $14,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Northwestern Ohio earned it the #5 place for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. University Of Northwestern Ohio is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lima. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,366. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $13,084. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from University Of Northwestern Ohio generally make around $42,690. Set against $13,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Medina County Career Center earned the #6 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the rural area of Medina, Medina County Career Center is a small public university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,273.
Upper Valley Career Center landed the #7 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Upper Valley Career Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Piqua. Students borrow a median of $14,820 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $44,245. That is a strong return on a $14,820 median debt.
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center came in at #8 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the suburb of Brecksville, Cuyahoga Valley Career Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $18,596. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Cuyahoga Valley Career Center earn a median of $45,874 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,596 median debt.
Stautzenberger College Maumee came in at #9 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Stautzenberger College Maumee is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Maumee. Students from in state pay about $16,699 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $13,730. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Stautzenberger College Maumee generally make around $33,403. That is a strong return on a $13,730 median debt.
Ohio Business College Sheffield landed the #10 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the suburb of Sheffield Village, Ohio Business College Sheffield is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,534 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $12,416. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Ohio Business College Sheffield earn a median of $37,743 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis College Cincinnati landed the #11 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Fortis College Cincinnati is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,763. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Fortis College Cincinnati generally make around $35,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis College Centerville earned the #12 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Located in the suburb of Centerville, Fortis College Centerville is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,440. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $36,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls landed the #13 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the suburb of Cuyahoga Falls, Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,596. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $13,000. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $37,139. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fortis College Columbus earned the #14 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Fortis College Columbus is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,935. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $13,000. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Fortis College Columbus generally make around $35,785. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt.
This list is compiled 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.