Best Online Master's In Electrical Engineering

Become an expert in heating, ventilation, and AC (HVAC) with one of the best HVAC training programs in the country.

Are you someone who is equally passionate about electrical circuits as you are about getting your hands dirty at work? Do you envision yourself as a leader designing and maintaining successful HVAC systems? Then a degree or certification in HVAC may be the next, ideal move for you!

What kind of HVAC degree should you get?

Though most HVAC certificates and degrees provide similar foundational training, each comes with its own emphases and specializations. Some schools ensure you have a firm grasp on theory as much as application. Others stress the importance of getting in the lab and learning through hands-on experience.

Whichever program feels right for you, just make sure they offer the kind of certification you want. And check whether they prepare you for the industry EPA exam. We've be sure to note those that do below.

Finally, if you're still not sure about HVAC training, because of finances or circumstance, and you're wondering about earning a degree online, visit our 2017 ranking for the best online education programs in the nation.

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Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.

How much money do people make with an HVAC certificate or degree?

Let's say you just want to earn an HVAC certificate before committing the time and money to a full associate degree. Then you're looking at an average salary of at least 45k a year. Now, maybe you're ready to take some more classes and complete the full AS degree. You're looking at a substantial pay raise: those with an AS in HVAC earn on average 52k a year. The possibility of making upwards of 76k annually only increases in time.

Not only is the pay good, HVAC offers job stability. It's projected that the need for HVAC mechanics will rise another 14 percent (way above the national average) in the next few years alone.

What are the requirements for an HVAC certificate or degree?

Acceptance into any of these HVAC programs are practically guaranteed. You only have to prove you're passionate about HVAC training!

Once accepted, you can anticipate foundational classes in electricity, cooling, and heating. If you're earning only the certificate you may take a few more courses on top of these, such as Troubleshooting Skills or Electrical Motors.

But if you're planning to earn an associate degree you can expect a number of specialized classes. These might include thermodynamics, sustainable energy, brazing and piping, and more. As a rule of thumb, the associate degree will take around two years to complete while certifications range from six to twelve months.

What are the best HVAC degrees?

While some of these programs specialize in green energy and sustainability and others emphasize leadership development, they all share one thing one common: they are the best at training future HVAC mechanics. Whether you want to work in installation or design, one of these HVAC programs will get you where you want to go.

To determine the best HVAC programs we started first with the reputation of each HVAC program in the nation and then looked into graduation rates, retention rates, affordability, and the early salaries of graduates. After such thorough research, our final list boasts the best HVAC programs in the U.S. Our figures and information come from the university and colleges' websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.