Which HVAC Schools in Cathedral City Should You Compare?
- Mayfield College in Cathedral City, 3 miles away, offers Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Certificate and HVAC/R Level 1, Electricity Advanced (Twentynine Palms campus only).
- San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage in Rancho Mirage, 5 miles away, offers Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate of Completion and Trades Studies Associate of Science (general education completion for HVAC-R certificate holders).
- College of the Desert in Palm Desert, 8 miles away, offers Air Conditioning & Refrigeration AS and Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Certificate of Achievement.
- EPA 608: 6 of these 8 schools name EPA 608 preparation or testing.
- HVAC pay in California: a median $72,560 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Compare HVAC Programs Near Cathedral City
| School | Distance | Tuition and fees | HVAC awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayfield CollegeCathedral City | 3 miles | 94 | ||
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageRancho Mirage | 5 miles | 24 | ||
| College of the DesertPalm Desert | 8 miles | $1,326 | 78 | 31% |
| CET-CoachellaCoachella | 19 miles | 41 | ||
| San Joaquin Valley College-TemeculaTemecula | 46 miles | 76 | ||
| InterCoast Colleges-RiversideRiverside | 47 miles | 0 | ||
| Summit CollegeSan Bernardino | 49 miles | 88 | ||
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino | 52 miles | $1,196 | 10 | 28% |
HVAC programs near Cathedral City, sorted by straight-line distance. Tuition: 2024–25 full-time rate. Awards: HVAC credentials conferred (NCES College Navigator). Graduation rate is school-wide. Blank cells have no federal figure.
Best HVAC Schools in Cathedral City for What You Need
HVAC Schools in Cathedral City: College of the Desert and 7 Others
College of the Desert
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,326 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 78 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
Mayfield College
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 94 conferred 2024–25
The closest campus to Cathedral City; the most HVAC awards nearby (94 in 2024–25).
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
Summit College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 88 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 76 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Ductwork
CET-Coachella
Offers one other award in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 41 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Ductwork
San Bernardino Valley College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,196 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 10 conferred 2024–25
The lowest tuition of the 2 HVAC schools here ($1,196); a degree option on top of certificates.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Controls · Commercial
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 24 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Ductwork
Tuition and HVAC awards: NCES College Navigator. Programs and topics: each school's own HVAC page, reviewed September 2026. Distances are straight-line from Cathedral City.
HVAC Classes in Cathedral City: When Programs Meet
- Mayfield CollegeClasses run 35 weeks, Monday through Thursday, followed by a 5-week, 180-hour externship (Monday through Friday); the program is delivered in residence.
- San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageStudents can earn the certificate of completion in as few as 10 months; certificate holders can add the Trades Studies Associate of Science in 25 weeks.
- CET-CoachellaStudents attend about 30 hours a week and usually finish the 900-hour program in 8 to 9 months; open enrollment lets students start the day after their application is complete.
Also publishing schedules: San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula (46 miles), InterCoast Colleges-Riverside (47 miles) and Summit College (49 miles). See each profile for times.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Cathedral City?
Mayfield College, CET-Coachella and InterCoast Colleges-Riverside offer certificates or diplomas only; San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage, College of the Desert and San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula also award an HVAC associate degree, which adds general education and usually takes about two years full time.
- Mayfield CollegeHeating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Certificate: 720 clock hours / 35 semester credit hours (40 weeks incl. 5-week externship); HVAC/R Level 1, Electricity Advanced (Twentynine Palms campus only): 270 clock hours
- San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageHeating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate of Completion: as few as 10 months; Trades Studies Associate of Science (general education completion for HVAC-R certificate holders): 25 weeks
- College of the DesertAir Conditioning & Refrigeration AS: 63 units; Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Certificate of Achievement: 27 units
HVAC Technician Pay in California
Annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in California (35,130 jobs); U.S. median $61,010. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Questions About HVAC Schools in Cathedral City
How Much Do HVAC Schools in Cathedral City Cost?
San Bernardino Valley College charges the least, $1,196 a year full time in 2024–25 (in-state); College of the Desert charges $1,326. Tools and books cost extra (San Bernardino Valley College budgets $1,380 for books and supplies).
How Long Does HVAC School Take Near Cathedral City?
It depends on the credential. At Mayfield College, the closest program that publishes lengths, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Certificate runs 720 clock hours / 35 semester credit hours (40 weeks incl. 5-week externship). 4 of the 8 schools near Cathedral City also offer an associate degree, which usually takes about two years full time.
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Cathedral City?
HVAC mechanics and installers in California earn a median $72,560 a year (BLS, May 2025), 19% above the U.S. median of $61,010. The top 10% earn more than $109,060.
What Is the Best HVAC School Near Cathedral City?
College of the Desert scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the HVAC schools within 60 miles, with 78 HVAC awards in 2024–25. Mayfield College ranks second.
Where Can You Get EPA 608 Certified Near Cathedral City?
Mayfield College, College of the Desert and CET-Coachella name EPA 608 preparation or testing on their HVAC program pages.
HVAC Programs Near Cathedral City but Farther Out
- UEI College-Riverside, Riverside52 miles
- CET-Colton, Colton54 miles
- Riverside City College, Riverside54 miles
- American College of Healthcare and Technology in Riverside, CA, Riverside59 miles
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
- Official HVAC program pages of the 8 schools above (each profile links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator (IPEDS).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.