How Much Does HVAC School Cost in Virginia?
At Virginia's community colleges, in-state tuition and fees for a full-time year (2024-25) run from $4,979 at New River Community College to $5,891 at Northern Virginia Community College, and most charge between $5,007 and $5,102. Private schools cost roughly three times as much: Advanced Technology Institute in Virginia Beach lists $14,568 a year, Fortis College in Richmond $15,688, and Centura College in Newport News $16,637.
In Virginia, the price of HVAC school depends less on which community college you pick and more on two other choices: public college or private school, and a short career studies certificate or a full degree. Tuition at the state’s community colleges barely varies. Private programs cost about three times as much per year but finish in 48 weeks to about 15 months.
All figures come from NCES. Community college prices are tuition and fees for a full-time year in 2024-25. Private school prices are the yearly rate charged to all students.
Community College vs Private School: The Short Version
| Virginia community colleges | Private HVAC schools | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly tuition and fees | $4,979 to $5,891 in-state | $14,568 to $16,637 |
| Typical credentials | Career studies certificates, certificates, AAS degrees | Diplomas |
| Length | One semester to two years | 48 weeks to about 15 months |
| Schedule | Semesters, some evening options | Fixed day and night sections |
If price is your main concern, a community college wins easily. If you want one continuous program with a set end date, a private school may be worth the premium.
Tuition at Virginia’s Community Colleges
Sixteen Virginia community colleges teach HVAC. Here they are from lowest to highest in-state tuition:
| School | City | In-state | Out-of-state | Books and supplies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New River Community College | Dublin | $4,979 | $11,417 | $2,000 |
| Danville Community College | Danville | $4,992 | $11,430 | $2,000 |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | $5,007 | $11,445 | $1,780 |
| Southside Virginia Community College | South Boston | $5,007 | $11,445 | $2,600 |
| Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | $5,007 | $11,445 | $1,600 |
| Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin | $5,012 | $11,450 | $1,466 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | $5,022 | $11,460 | $1,800 |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown | $5,072 | $11,510 | $1,470 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | $5,075 | $11,513 | $1,500 |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester | $5,082 | $11,520 | $1,470 |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Melfa | $5,082 | $11,520 | $1,213 |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton | $5,088 | $11,526 | $2,600 |
| Rappahannock Community College | Glenns | $5,102 | $11,540 | $1,470 |
| Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | $5,157 | $11,595 | $1,932 |
| Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | $5,400 | $11,838 | $1,500 |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Woodbridge | $5,891 | $12,409 | $1,800 |
The whole in-state range is under a thousand dollars. Out-of-state students pay a bit more than twice the in-state rate everywhere. The books and supplies estimate varies more than tuition, from $1,213 at Eastern Shore to $2,600 at Southside and Virginia Peninsula.
Why the Credential Matters More Than the College
Most Virginia community colleges build their HVAC offerings around career studies certificates, short credentials of roughly 16 to 29 credits. The NCES figure covers a full-time year, so a one- or two-semester certificate costs less than that. Some examples:
- Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg offers a 16-credit HVAC Fundamentals certificate tied to NCCER Core and HVAC Level 1, a 16-credit HVAC certificate tied to NCCER Level 2, and a 61-credit AAS.
- Virginia Peninsula Community College in Hampton lets you move from a 16-credit career studies certificate into a 33-credit certificate and then a 63-credit technical studies degree, with credits carrying forward.
- Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa stacks a 22-credit helper certificate into a 28-credit assistant certificate and then a 60-credit degree, with classes counting toward Virginia journeyman and master HVAC licenses.
- Rappahannock Community College in Glenns offers a 17-credit certificate you can finish in one or two semesters and a 29-credit advanced certificate.
The stackable approach lets you pay for one step, get to work, and come back for the next. The post on choosing a certificate or an associate degree covers when the longer path pays off, and the guide to how long HVAC school takes compares timelines.
Private HVAC Schools and What They Charge
Four private schools teach HVAC in Virginia, three of them in Hampton Roads:
| School | City | Yearly tuition and fees | Length | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Technology Institute | Virginia Beach | $14,568 | About 15 months, 1,200 clock hours | Day or evening, four days a week |
| Fortis College | Richmond | $15,688 | 48 instructional weeks | Morning or evening, Mon-Thu |
| Tidewater Tech-Trades | Norfolk | $16,337 | 48 weeks full-time | Full-time |
| Centura College | Newport News | $16,637 | 12 months | Day or night |
Fortis College in Richmond conferred 118 HVAC awards in 2024-25, the most in Virginia. Its 48-week diploma runs in a morning section (8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) or an evening section (6:00 to 11:00 p.m.), Monday through Thursday, and ends with an EPA certification preparation course.
Advanced Technology Institute is the lowest-priced private option at $14,568 a year. It reports a 79% graduation rate (Fall 2021 cohort), the highest of any Virginia HVAC program. It prepares students for EPA 608 and A2L low-GWP safety certification, and Virginia DPOR approves it to count toward journeyman license training. A quarter of the program covers commercial HVAC and refrigeration.
Centura College in Newport News runs day classes from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and night classes from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. Its books and supplies estimate of $3,200 is the highest in the state, so count that in. Fortis estimates $1,348.
Tidewater Tech-Trades in Norfolk has the lowest private book estimate at $695 and lists EPA 608, OSHA 10 and Industry Competency Exam credentials, and its lab includes gas and oil furnaces and refrigeration units.
Keeping Your Job While You Train
A cheaper program only helps if you can actually attend it. Several Virginia options are built for people who work days:
- Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap offers its certificate during the day and part-time in the evening, at $5,007 a year in-state. It conferred 43 HVAC awards in 2024-25.
- Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon runs day and evening cohorts in alternate years: day cohorts start in even-numbered years and evening cohorts in odd-numbered years. Check which one is next before you apply.
- Laurel Ridge Community College runs its workforce apprenticeship levels as a hybrid that meets one evening a week at Middletown and Fauquier.
- Private schools with night sections include Fortis (until 11:00 p.m.), Centura (until 11:30 p.m.) and Advanced Technology Institute, which runs various day or evening schedules four days a week.
Part-time study stretches a program out over more terms, which can make each term’s bill easier to carry alongside a paycheck.
Picking a Program by Region
- Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia Community College runs all three HVAC programs at its Woodbridge campus. At $5,891 it’s the priciest community college, but its HVAC Excellence-accredited degree meets the education requirements for a Virginia HVAC-R tradesperson license. See the Annandale HVAC schools page.
- Richmond. Brightpoint Community College in Chester ($5,082) offers a 19-credit certificate that fulfills the education requirements for the journeyman exam and ends with the EPA 608 test. Fortis is the private choice. Browse Richmond HVAC schools.
- Hampton Roads. Virginia Peninsula and Paul D Camp are the community college options; Advanced Technology Institute, Centura and Tidewater Tech-Trades are private.
- Shenandoah Valley. Laurel Ridge Community College in Middletown ($5,072) offers a 16-credit certificate plus a four-level workforce apprenticeship program that meets one evening a week.
- Southwest Virginia. Virginia Highlands, Mountain Empire, Southwest Virginia, Wytheville and New River all charge between $4,979 and $5,075. Wytheville’s stackable degree builds in six industry credentials.
Is the Cost Worth It?
HVAC mechanics and installers in Virginia earned a median of $59,730 a year in May 2025, or $28.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even Virginia’s most expensive community college charges $5,891 a year in-state, so the training bill is small next to what the work pays.
For pay by metro, from Washington to Kingsport-Bristol, read how much HVAC technicians make in Virginia. For the national picture on training costs, see the HVAC training cost guide, and to compare every program, start at the Virginia HVAC schools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does HVAC School Cost in Virginia for Out-of-State Students?
Out-of-state tuition and fees at Virginia community colleges run from $11,417 a year at New River Community College to $12,409 at Northern Virginia Community College (2024-25). Private schools such as Fortis College and Advanced Technology Institute charge one rate to all students.
What Is the Cheapest HVAC Program in Virginia?
New River Community College in Dublin lists the lowest in-state tuition at $4,979 for a full-time year (2024-25). Its Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Career Studies Certificate runs as a one-year sequence across fall, spring and summer.
Do Virginia HVAC Programs Count Toward a Journeyman License?
Several do. Brightpoint Community College and Virginia Western Community College say their certificates meet the education requirements for the Virginia HVAC journeyman exam, and Advanced Technology Institute is approved by Virginia DPOR to count toward journeyman license training.
Can You Train for HVAC at Night in Virginia?
Yes. Mountain Empire Community College offers its certificate part-time in the evening, Virginia Highlands Community College runs evening cohorts in odd-numbered years, and Fortis College in Richmond has a 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. section Monday through Thursday.
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