2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in the Southwest Region
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 85 schools to find the best return on investment for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students.
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2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in the Southwest Region
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
Our analysis ranked Brazosport College the best value for a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration in the Southwest Region. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,388, compared with $4,711 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $32,746. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes El Centro College one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $9,720. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $28,849. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $6,868. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $24,267. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Pima Community College one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $10,655. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Del Mar College one of the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $40,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus landed the #6 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Located in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,256, while out-of-state students pay about $5,616. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $11,110 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. Set against $11,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #7 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Las Cruces. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,284 median debt.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #9 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $10,916 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $32,414. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College landed the #10 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Port Arthur landed the #11 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $33,385. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Lamar State College Port Arthur generally make around $78,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Texas College landed the #12 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $11,290. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $15,965. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $43,536. That is a strong return on a $15,965 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville came in at #14 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $10,058. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. Set against $10,058 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College landed the #15 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $44,322. That is a strong return on a $16,734 median debt.
Mohave Community College placed #16 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Kingman. Students from in state pay about $2,208 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,968 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $14,766. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $54,785. That is a strong return on a $14,766 median debt.
South Plains College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $13,788. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $30,949. That is a strong return on a $13,788 median debt.
Houston Community College earned the #18 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $26,250 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texarkana College placed #19 among the best values for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,476, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $10,500. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $29,535 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Pontotoc Technology Center ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the rural area of Ada, Pontotoc Technology Center is a small public university. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Pontotoc Technology Center generally make around $44,846.
Western Technology Center ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the rural area of Burns Flat, Western Technology Center is a small public institution. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $40,264.
Lee College landed the #22 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $10,941. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cochise College earned the #23 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,280, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $12,013. Early-career heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates make about $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Panola College earned the #24 position for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Panola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Carthage. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,232 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,072.
Paris Junior College came in at #25 for value in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,846 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Paris Junior College generally make around $28,207. Set against $8,846 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:
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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 · 85 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
