Best colleges for Heating
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Heating by graduate earnings are Hennepin Technical College ($65,592), Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology ($58,336) and Perry Technical Institute ($57,782), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park, MN): $65,592, 142 graduates a year
- Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (Okmulgee, OK): $58,336, 54 graduates a year
- Perry Technical Institute (Yakima, WA): $57,782, 47 graduates a year
- St Cloud Technical and Community College (Saint Cloud, MN): $57,178, 38 graduates a year
- Century College (White Bear Lake, MN): $52,870, 163 graduates a year
Compare 611 U.S. colleges offering Heating by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
Heating programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,485 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 47.02 and the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Heating programs
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 install, maintain, and repair heating and cooling systems, making it ideal for those who enjoy hands-on work and problem-solving in technical environments.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in mechanical systems, building construction, customer service, and engineering technology. Core coursework includes studying blueprints, testing electrical circuits, and understanding the configuration of heating and cooling equipment components.
Top 25 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Associate degree | $65,592 | 142 | 42% | — | $20,000 |
| 2 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Okmulgee, OK Public · Associate degree | $58,336 | 54 | 42% | — | $11,500 |
| 3 | Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WA Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $57,782 | 47 | 79% | $24,069 | $17,146 |
| 4 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Certificate | $57,178 | 38 | 45% | — | $10,394 |
| 5 | Century College White Bear Lake, MN Public · Certificate | $52,870 | 163 | 31% | — | $13,000 |
| 6 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WI Public · Certificate | $52,820 | 31 | 34% | — | — |
| 7 | Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN Public · Certificate | $52,079 | 26 | 58% | — | — |
| 8 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Public · Associate degree | $51,770 | 69 | 53% | — | $13,975 |
| 9 | Motoring Technical Training Institute Seekonk, MA Private for-profit · Certificate | $51,281 | 63 | 89% | $18,778 | $9,500 |
| 10 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · Associate degree | $49,666 | 38 | 38% | — | — |
| 11 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GA Public · Certificate | $49,346 | 82 | 44% | — | — |
| 12 | Refrigeration School Inc Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate | $48,145 | 107 | 76% | $26,791 | $8,835 |
| 13 | Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NY Public · Associate degree | $47,134 | 37 | 35% | — | $12,000 |
| 14 | Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $47,076 | 28 | 66% | $25,132 | $17,500 |
| 15 | Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville, NC Public · Certificate | $46,491 | 77 | 46% | — | — |
| 16 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY Public · Certificate | $46,451 | 81 | 58% | — | — |
| 17 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN Public · Certificate | $46,285 | 38 | 47% | — | $7,500 |
| 18 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL Public · Certificate | $45,926 | 22 | 64% | — | — |
| 19 | Athens Technical College Athens, GA Public · Certificate | $45,356 | 118 | 51% | — | — |
| 20 | Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KY Public · Certificate | $44,899 | 68 | 54% | — | — |
| 21 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · Certificate | $44,715 | 78 | 34% | — | — |
| 22 | Northeast Technical Institute Scarborough, ME Private for-profit · Certificate | $44,276 | 87 | 90% | $34,910 | $8,550 |
| 23 | YTI Career Institute - York York, PA Private for-profit · Certificate | $44,157 | 30 | 45% | $17,792 | $9,212 |
| 24 | American Trade School Saint Ann, MO Private for-profit · Certificate | $44,057 | 51 | 72% | $18,963 | $19,000 |
| 25 | Adult and Continuing Education-BCTS Hackensack, NJ Public · Certificate | $44,000 | 29 | 91% | — | — |
Specializations within Heating
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 47.02 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 50 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 49-9021, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, and its national outlook.
Graduates can expect a strong job outlook, with an annual growth rate of 8.1% and approximately 40,100 annual openings in the field. The median wage for positions in this area is $59,810, and a postsecondary nondegree award is typically required for entry-level roles.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Heating
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 47.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 47.02 (Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 49-9021 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installersprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Heating programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Test electrical circuits or components for continuity, using electrical test equipment.
- Comply with all applicable standards, policies, or procedures, such as safety procedures or the maintenance of a clean work area.
- Study blueprints, design specifications, or manufacturers' recommendations to ascertain the configuration of heating or cooling equipment components and to ensure the proper installation of components.
- Discuss heating or cooling system malfunctions with users to isolate problems or to verify that repairs corrected malfunctions.
- Connect heating or air conditioning equipment to fuel, water, or refrigerant source to form complete circuit.
- Adjust system controls to settings recommended by manufacturer to balance system.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Heating program?+
The program focuses on heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration maintenance.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn critical thinking, mechanical knowledge, and customer service skills.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an annual growth rate of 8.1%.
What education is required to enter this field?+
Typically, a postsecondary nondegree award is required for entry-level positions.
How much do Heating graduates earn?+
Heating graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,485, College Scorecard (2019); the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers occupation pays about $64,780 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Heating?+
Heating maps to CIP 47.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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