2026 Best Value Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in Missouri
[Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heating-air-conditioning-ventilation-refrigeration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 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 Missouri
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
Leading the list is Metropolitan Community College Kansas City, our #1 best value for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration in Missouri. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City generally make around $44,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,866 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $38,862 early in their careers. Set against $15,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,250, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $13,664 in student loans. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of $47,560 early in their careers. Set against $13,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Linn State Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,160, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates carry a median of $11,042 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $43,723. Set against $11,042 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Central College earned it the #5 place for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. East Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Union. Students from in state pay about $4,272 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,680. Typical student debt for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration graduates is $12,062. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from East Central College generally make around $36,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Trade School ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. American Trade School is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Ann. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from American Trade School generally make around $44,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pinnacle Career Institute South Kansas City landed the #7 spot for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration value this year. Pinnacle Career Institute South Kansas City is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Students borrow a median of $11,658 to complete the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program here. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration graduates of Pinnacle Career Institute South Kansas City earn a median of $33,807 early in their careers. Set against $11,658 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 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.
