Best HVAC Schools in California

El Camino Community College District Leads the California HVAC School Rankings

Tuition is the 2024–25 full-time rate (in-district where published) and graduation rate is school-wide (NCES College Navigator). HVAC awards are credentials conferred in HVAC. Blank cells mean no federal figure for that school.

Best HVAC Schools in California by Goal

HVAC Programs in California Near Bakersfield, Colton and Fresno

Lab days are easier to keep up with at a campus you can reach, so start with the city you can commute from. Each program is grouped with the nearest city guide within 45 miles.

• BakersfieldBakersfield College, San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield and UEI College-Bakersfield
• ColtonCET-Colton, San Bernardino Valley College and Summit College
• FresnoFresno City College, San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center and UEI College-Fresno
• Huntington ParkAmerican College of Healthcare and Technology, Los Angeles Trade Technical College and UEI College-Huntington Park
• OntarioChaffey College, San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario and UEI College-Ontario
• RiversideInterCoast Colleges-Riverside, Riverside City College and UEI College-Riverside
• Garden GroveBrownson Technical School and UEI College-Garden Grove
• GardenaEl Camino Community College District and UEI College-Gardena

HVAC Schools in California, School by School

Tuition and HVAC awards: NCES College Navigator. Programs and topics: each school's own HVAC page, reviewed September 2026.

What HVAC School Costs in California: $1,124 to $1,696 a Year

Among the 28 California HVAC schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $1,124 at Antelope Valley Community College District to $1,696 at City College of San Francisco. See HVAC School Cost in California for tools, books and ways to cut costs.

The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.

Evening HVAC Classes in California: 7 Programs

Schedules as each school publishes them. Ask about start dates and evening sections before you apply.

• ATA CollegeClasses are held during the day, in the evening or online (hybrid), and full-time students finish in about 11 months; the program includes a five-week externship with a local employer.
• Brownson Technical SchoolStudents new to HVAC can attend full time Monday through Thursday (as little as 10 months) or take part-time evening classes (Monday to Wednesday, 5:40 to 10:00 p.m.); working technicians can also choose a blended online and on-campus format.
• Capstone CollegeDay classes finish in 30 weeks (five days a week) and evening classes in 48 weeks; morning and evening start dates run through the year.
• DeHart Technical SchoolClasses run Monday through Friday in morning (7:30-11:30), afternoon (12:15-4:15) or evening (5:00-9:00) sessions. The hybrid format holds lectures online Monday, Wednesday and Friday and on-campus labs Tuesday and Thursday; an in-person format is also offered. New programs start every month.
• Hacienda La Puente Adult EducationDay classes run Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Willow Center), and evening classes Monday to Thursday, 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.
• Mt San Antonio CollegeClasses are offered days and evenings, and students can reach industry employment in as little as one academic year; a work-study component is also offered.
• Sacramento City CollegeThe program runs both day and evening lecture and lab sections.

HVAC Technician Salary in California: The Napa Area Pays the Most

For pay by metro area and job, see HVAC Technician Salary in California.

Annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in California (35,130 jobs); U.S. median $61,010. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

HVAC Schools by City in California

• Anaheim
• Bakersfield
• Baldwin Park
• Cathedral City
• Chino
• Chula Vista
• Citrus Heights
• Coachella
• Coalinga
• Colton
• Compton
• Costa Mesa
• Cypress
• El Cajon
• Foster City
• Fresno
• Garden Grove
• Gardena
• Gilroy
• Hesperia
• Huntington Park
• La Puente
• Lancaster
• Long Beach
• Los Altos Hills
• Los Angeles
• Merced
• Modesto
• Norco
• Oakland
• Oceanside
• Ontario
• Oroville
• Oxnard
• Palm Desert
• Pasadena
• Rancho Cordova
• Rancho Mirage
• Reseda
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Bernardino
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Jose
• San Marcos
• Santa Clara
• Sonoma

HVAC Schools in Nearby States

HVAC Schools in California: FAQ

More on HVAC Training in California