Best colleges for Heating in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Virginia Western Community College, Advanced Technology Institute and Fortis College - Richmond are the top Heating programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Virginia Western Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,629, College Scorecard. Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek, Fortis College - Richmond and Northern Virginia Community College award the most Heating degrees and certificates in Virginia: 141, 118 and 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Virginia colleges offer Heating and award 733 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 4 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 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public · Certificate | $40,629 | 38 | 40% | — | — |
| 2 | Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach Private for-profit · Certificate | $38,761 | 50 | 79% | $19,848 | $15,905 |
| 3 | Fortis College - Richmond Richmond Private for-profit · Certificate | $32,955 | 118 | 50% | $22,666 | $10,649 |
| 4 | Centura College - Newport News Newport News Private for-profit · Certificate | $29,395 | 53 | 75% | $27,110 | $14,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Heating degrees in Virginia
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 | Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek Norfolk Private for-profit | 141 | Not reported |
| 2 | Fortis College - Richmond Richmond Private for-profit | 118 | $32,955 |
| 3 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 65 | Not reported |
| 4 | Centura College - Newport News Newport News Private for-profit | 53 | $29,395 |
| 5 | Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach Private for-profit | 50 | $38,761 |
| 6 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap Public | 43 | Not reported |
| 7 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public | 38 | $40,629 |
| 8 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 9 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 10 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public | 23 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 12 Virginia colleges offering Heating
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta | Public | 23 |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Melfa | Public | 18 |
| Rappahannock Community College | Glenns | Public | 18 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | Public | 18 |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton | Public | 14 |
| Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Public | 14 |
| Danville Community College | Danville | Public | 13 |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown | Public | 11 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | 9 |
| New River Community College | Dublin | Public | 8 |
| Fortis College - Norfolk | Norfolk | Private for-profit | 2 |
| Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin | 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Heating programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Heating degrees?+
Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek (141 graduates a year), Fortis College - Richmond (118 graduates a year) and Northern Virginia Community College (65 graduates a year) award the most Heating degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Virginia colleges offer Heating.
What is the best college for Heating in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Virginia Western Community College leads among Heating programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,629, College Scorecard. Advanced Technology Institute and Fortis College - Richmond follow. By degrees awarded, Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek is the largest, with 141 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Heating program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Virginia Western Community College tops the list at $40,629. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers in Virginia is $61,190 (median $59,730), across about 14,690 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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