Best colleges for Heating in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
HVAC Technical Institute, ETI School of Skilled Trades and Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College are the top Heating programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. HVAC Technical Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,644, College Scorecard. ETI School of Skilled Trades, College of Lake County and Chicago Professional Center award the most Heating degrees and certificates in Illinois: 268, 250 and 180 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Illinois colleges offer Heating and award 1,730 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician program prepares students for careers in the mechanical and repair technologies field. This program focuses on the essential skills needed to…
Top 5 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HVAC Technical Institute Chicago Private for-profit · Certificate | $41,644 | 155 | 86% | $23,492 | $6,851 |
| 2 | ETI School of Skilled Trades Willowbrook Private for-profit · Certificate | $39,169 | 268 | 80% | $28,066 | $9,500 |
| 3 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Rockford Private for-profit · Certificate | $33,403 | 37 | 66% | $20,078 | $13,730 |
| 4 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Public · Certificate | $28,504 | 34 | 48% | — | $6,292 |
| 5 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public · Certificate | $24,513 | 111 | 41% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Heating degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ETI School of Skilled Trades Willowbrook Private for-profit | 268 | $39,169 |
| 2 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 250 | Not reported |
| 3 | Chicago Professional Center Prospect Heights Private for-profit | 180 | Not reported |
| 4 | HVAC Technical Institute Chicago Private for-profit | 155 | $41,644 |
| 5 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public | 111 | $24,513 |
| 6 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public | 109 | Not reported |
| 7 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public | 60 | Not reported |
| 8 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public | 55 | Not reported |
| 9 | Illinois Central College East Peoria Public | 51 | Not reported |
| 10 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 44 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 Illinois colleges offering Heating
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 73 |
| Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College | Rockford | Private for-profit | 37 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Public | 34 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago | Public | 33 |
| Kankakee Community College | Kankakee | Public | 32 |
| Heartland Community College | Normal | Public | 32 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | Public | 28 |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | Public | 27 |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Public | 24 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | Public | 21 |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville | Public | 19 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 16 |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Public | 14 |
| Lake Land College | Mattoon | Public | 11 |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon | Public | 11 |
| John A Logan College | Carterville | Public | 9 |
| Morton College | Cicero | Public | 6 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | 6 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 5 |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | Olney | Public | 3 |
| Shawnee Community College | Ullin | Public | 3 |
| Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby | Public | 2 |
| John Wood Community College | Quincy | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021).
Top skills
What Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Heating programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Heating degrees?+
ETI School of Skilled Trades (268 graduates a year), College of Lake County (250 graduates a year) and Chicago Professional Center (180 graduates a year) award the most Heating degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Illinois colleges offer Heating.
What is the best college for Heating in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, HVAC Technical Institute leads among Heating programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,644, College Scorecard. ETI School of Skilled Trades and Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College follow. By degrees awarded, ETI School of Skilled Trades is the largest, with 268 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Heating program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, HVAC Technical Institute tops the list at $41,644. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Illinois is $77,570 (median $77,410), across about 9,740 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Heating program?+
The Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician program prepares students for careers in the mechanical and repair technologies field. This program focuses on the essential skills needed to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?+
The national job outlook is about +8.1% growth with around 40,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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