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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Schools in Illinois

1 Colleges in the United States
1,217 Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration Degrees Awarded
$41,559 Avg Early-Career Salary

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools to find the best for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration in Illinois

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration

1

Moraine Valley Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 170 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program make about $43,844 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,149. More information about a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration from Moraine Valley Community College

2

A rank of #2 makes College Of Lake County one of the top schools for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. College Of Lake County awarded about 215 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Typical student debt for the program is $9,785. Read more about the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program at College Of Lake County

3
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration, landing the #3 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Des Plaines. About 37 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees were awarded at Oakton Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program make about $48,838 in their early career. Oakton Community College graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration from Oakton Community College

4
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. About 26 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Graduates of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program make about $44,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree. See the full heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program report for Harper College

5

Students looking for a strong heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program will find one at Elgin Community College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of Elgin. About 107 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees were awarded at Elgin Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from Elgin Community College earn around $24,513 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,727. Read more about the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program at Elgin Community College

6

Waubonsee Community College earned the #6 position for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. Waubonsee Community College awarded about 23 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program make about $39,659 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,939. Read more about the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program at Waubonsee Community College

7
Illinois Central College crest
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL

Illinois Central College came in at #7 for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Illinois Central College is a large public school located in the suburb of East Peoria. Illinois Central College awarded about 46 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program make about $53,190 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,222. See the full heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program report for Illinois Central College

8
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. There were roughly 66 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from College Of Dupage earn around $43,025 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492. See the full heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program report for College Of Dupage

9

Southwestern Illinois College came in at #9 for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. About 40 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees were awarded at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from Southwestern Illinois College earn around $44,345 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete this degree. Read more about the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program at Southwestern Illinois College

10

Joliet Junior College came in at #10 for heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. There were roughly 16 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $40,118 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995. See the full heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program report for Joliet Junior College

11

Lincoln Land Community College placed #11 among the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Lincoln Land Community College awarded about 34 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from Lincoln Land Community College earn around $28,504 in the first couple years of their career. Lincoln Land Community College graduates carry a median of $6,292 in student loans. More information about a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration from Lincoln Land Community College

12
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL

Kaskaskia College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. Kaskaskia College awarded about 16 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from Kaskaskia College earn around $45,658 in the first couple years of their career. Kaskaskia College graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. More information about a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration from Kaskaskia College

13
Prairie State College crest
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, IL

Prairie State College placed #13 among the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. There were roughly 11 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students who graduated with this degree at Prairie State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program make about $37,500 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,663. See the full heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program report for Prairie State College

14

City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College placed #14 among the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 43 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $48,264. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Get the full heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration details for City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College

15

Eti School Of Skilled Trades placed #15 among the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Located in the suburb of Willowbrook, Eti School Of Skilled Trades is a small private for-profit university. Eti School Of Skilled Trades awarded about 182 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program make about $39,169 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Read more about the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program at Eti School Of Skilled Trades

16

Hvac Technical Institute ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. Hvac Technical Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 138 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees were awarded at Hvac Technical Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from Hvac Technical Institute earn around $41,644 in the first couple years of their career. Hvac Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $6,851 in student loans. Read more about the heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration program at Hvac Technical Institute

17

Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College placed #17 among the best heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Rockford. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College awarded about 47 heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration degree from Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earn around $33,403 in the first couple years of their career. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College graduates carry a median of $13,730 in student loans. More information about a degree in heating, air conditioning, ventilation & refrigeration from Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 31 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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