Best colleges for Heating
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, install, service and maintain the operating condition of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
611 U.S. institutions graduated 28,286 Heating students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 47.0201, a specialization of Heating (CIP 47.02), and leads most directly to the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers occupation (BLS SOC 49-9021).
About Heating programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, install, service and maintain the operating condition of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. Includes instruction in diagnostic techniques, the use of testing equipment and the principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics as they relate to the repair of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
See also: 15.0501 - Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Heating program, formally known as Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician, prepares individuals for careers in the mechanic and repair technologies field. This program is ideal for those interested in applying technical knowledge and skills to install, service, and maintain heating and cooling systems in various settings.
Students in the Heating program will gain core skills in diagnostic techniques, the use of testing equipment, and the principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics. Coursework often includes practical training in troubleshooting and repairing heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
Credentials awarded
What Heating graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years15,156 graduates / yr · 441 institutions54%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year9,993 graduates / yr · 289 institutions35%
- Associate's degree2,464 graduates / yr · 217 institutions8.7%
- Award of less than 12 weeks440 graduates / yr · 12 institutions1.6%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years233 graduates / yr · 20 institutions0.8%
Graduates over time
Heating completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 20,042 |
| 2013 | 19,058 |
| 2014 | 18,921 |
| 2015 | 18,219 |
| 2016 | 18,236 |
| 2017 | 18,422 |
| 2018 | 19,781 |
| 2019 | 19,885 |
| 2020 | 19,962 |
| 2021 | 19,598 |
| 2022 | 21,893 |
| 2023 | 21,417 |
| 2024 | 23,251 |
| 2025 | 28,286 |
Top 50 institutions for Heating, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Technical College Orlando, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 560 | 63% | $25,852 | $31,990 |
| 2 | UEI College - Riverside Riverside, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 460 | 71% | $27,181 | $30,235 |
| 3 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 429 | 40% | — | $41,270 |
| 4 | J F Ingram State Technical College Deatsville, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 352 | 21% | — | — |
| 5 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 310 | 42% | — | — |
| 6 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 295 | 49% | — | — |
| 7 | UEI College - Fresno Fresno, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 278 | 61% | $30,005 | $23,433 |
| 8 | ETI School of Skilled Trades Willowbrook, ILPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 268 | 80% | $28,066 | $39,169 |
| 9 | UEI College - Ontario Ontario, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 254 | 66% | $27,167 | $33,444 |
| 10 | Tulsa Welding School - Houston Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 254 | 70% | $34,116 | — |
| 11 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 250 | 37% | — | — |
| 12 | Brownson Technical School Anaheim, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 242 | 89% | $34,333 | — |
| 13 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 242 | 21% | — | $32,070 |
| 14 | Charter College Anchorage, AKPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 231 | 56% | $26,789 | $41,202 |
| 15 | UEI College - Reseda Reseda, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 227 | 74% | $27,592 | $33,444 |
| 16 | UEI College - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 208 | 68% | $29,687 | $23,433 |
| 17 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 204 | 54% | $9,377 | $32,953 |
| 18 | Institute of Technology Clovis, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 201 | 73% | $24,518 | $39,935 |
| 19 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NYPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 200 | 78% | $17,771 | $36,136 |
| 20 | United Education Institute - Morrow Morrow, GAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 195 | 51% | $34,631 | $33,444 |
| 21 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 194 | 47% | — | $34,320 |
| 22 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 188 | 38% | — | $41,978 |
| 23 | United Education Institute - Stone Mountain Stone Mountain, GAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 186 | 56% | $33,803 | — |
| 24 | Tulsa Welding School - Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 185 | 73% | $28,537 | — |
| 25 | Chicago Professional Center Prospect Heights, ILPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 180 | — | — | — |
| 26 | Tulsa Welding School - Dallas Campus Irving, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 179 | — | — | — |
| 27 | UEI College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 174 | 63% | $26,221 | $33,444 |
| 28 | Institute for Business and Technology San Jose, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 173 | 84% | $26,509 | $41,695 |
| 29 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 168 | 33% | — | — |
| 30 | Pennco Tech-Blackwood Blackwood, NJPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 164 | 72% | $23,217 | $39,632 |
| 31 | Century College White Bear Lake, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 163 | 31% | — | $52,870 |
| 32 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 158 | 27% | — | — |
| 33 | HVAC Technical Institute Chicago, ILPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 155 | 86% | $23,492 | $41,644 |
| 34 | UEI College - Chula Vista Chula Vista, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 145 | 71% | $28,465 | $33,444 |
| 35 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 142 | 42% | — | $65,592 |
| 36 | Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek Norfolk, VAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 141 | — | — | — |
| 37 | Porter & Chester Institute Bridgeport, CTPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 140 | 45% | $18,216 | $43,235 |
| 38 | UEI College - Huntington Park Huntington Park, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 137 | 70% | $29,313 | $33,444 |
| 39 | Universal Technical Institute - Canton Canton, MIPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 137 | 64% | $22,762 | $35,713 |
| 40 | South Texas College McAllen, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 136 | 27% | — | $25,711 |
| 41 | National Career Education Citrus Heights, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 133 | 83% | $25,889 | $41,695 |
| 42 | UEI College - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 131 | 60% | $28,742 | $30,235 |
| 43 | UEI College - Oceanside Oceanside, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 128 | 69% | $26,941 | $33,444 |
| 44 | UEI College - Phoenix Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 126 | 57% | $32,886 | $33,444 |
| 45 | Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 125 | 40% | — | — |
| 46 | Lamson Institute San Antonio, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 125 | 80% | $26,614 | $41,695 |
| 47 | Pennco Tech-Bristol Bristol, PAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 123 | 84% | $22,272 | $38,417 |
| 48 | Universal Technical Institute - West Texas Austin, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 120 | 75% | $25,231 | — |
| 49 | Pinnacle Career Institute Kansas City, MOPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 119 | 52% | $22,015 | — |
| 50 | Athens Technical College Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 118 | 51% | — | $45,356 |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Heating field (CIP 47.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 50 states & territories
Where Heating graduates come from. Each state links to all Heating programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 49-9021, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Heating program can pursue careers as Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 8.1% and approximately 40,100 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $59,810, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 47.0201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installersprimary SOC 49-9021 | $61,010 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~40,100 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Heating programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What is the duration of the Heating program?+
The program typically awards credentials ranging from less than 12 weeks to 2 academic years.
What types of jobs can I get after completing this program?+
Graduates can work as Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.
How many colleges offer the Heating program in the U.S.?+
There are 611 colleges offering the Heating program across the United States.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and mechanical knowledge relevant to heating and cooling systems.
What is the CIP code for Heating?+
Heating is CIP 47.0201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Heating (CIP 47.02). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, install, service and maintain the operating condition of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. Includes instruction in diagnostic techniques, the use of testing equipment and the principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics as they relate to the repair of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
How many institutions offer Heating programs?+
611 U.S. institutions reported Heating graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 50 states & territories, awarding 28,286 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Heating graduates.
How much do Heating graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers occupation, which Heating most directly leads to, pays a median of $61,010 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Heating field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,485, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Heating graduates, so its figures match the Heating program page.
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