Is HVAC School in Long Beach Worth the Cost?
- Median HVAC pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area: $73,830, against $61,010 nationally (BLS, May 2025).
- Compton College in Compton, 7 miles away, offers Air Conditioning and Refrigeration A.S. and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Refrigeration Certificate of Achievement.
- Cypress College in Cypress, 9 miles away, offers Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Associate in Science and Automated Building Controls Associate in Science.
- UEI College-Gardena in Gardena, 10 miles away, offers Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Diploma.
- EPA 608: 7 of these 8 schools name EPA 608 preparation or testing.
HVAC Technician Pay Around Long Beach
Annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (10,720 jobs); U.S. median $61,010. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Compare HVAC Programs Near Long Beach
| School | Distance | Tuition and fees | HVAC awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compton CollegeCompton | 7 miles | $1,142 | 5 | 27% |
| Cypress CollegeCypress | 9 miles | $1,150 | 70 | 37% |
| UEI College-GardenaGardena | 10 miles | 87 | ||
| El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance | 12 miles | $1,144 | 91 | 42% |
| UEI College-Garden GroveGarden Grove | 13 miles | 174 | ||
| American College of Healthcare and Technology in Huntington Park, CAHuntington Park | 14 miles | 9 | ||
| UEI College-Huntington ParkHuntington Park | 15 miles | 137 | ||
| Brownson Technical SchoolAnaheim | 15 miles | 242 |
HVAC programs near Long Beach, 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 Long Beach for What You Need
HVAC Schools in Long Beach: El Camino Community College District and 7 Others
El Camino Community College District
Offers an associate degree and 9 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,144 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 91 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls
Brownson Technical School
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 242 conferred 2024–25
The most HVAC awards nearby (242 in 2024–25); evening or weekend classes; some coursework online.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
UEI College-Garden Grove
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 174 conferred 2024–25
Some coursework online.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
UEI College-Huntington Park
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 137 conferred 2024–25
Some coursework online.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
Cypress College
Offers 2 associate degrees and 9 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,150 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 70 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heat pumps · Controls · Commercial
Compton College
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,142 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 5 conferred 2024–25
The closest campus to Long Beach; the lowest tuition of the 3 HVAC schools here ($1,142); a degree option on top of certificates.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls
Tuition and HVAC awards: NCES College Navigator. Programs and topics: each school's own HVAC page, reviewed September 2026. Distances are straight-line from Long Beach.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Long Beach?
UEI College-Gardena, UEI College-Garden Grove and American College of Healthcare and Technology offer certificates or diplomas only; Compton College, Cypress College and El Camino Community College District also award an HVAC associate degree, which adds general education and usually takes about two years full time.
- Compton CollegeAir Conditioning and Refrigeration A.S.: 36 major units; Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Refrigeration Certificate of Achievement: 39 units; Air Conditioning Certificate of Achievement: 17 units
- Cypress CollegeAir Conditioning and Refrigeration Associate in Science: 60 units (2 years); Automated Building Controls Associate in Science: 60 units (2 years); Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate: 38.5-39 units (3-4 semesters)
- UEI College-GardenaHeating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Diploma: 720 clock hours / 36 semester credit units (36 instructional weeks; 40 weeks normal time)
HVAC Classes in Long Beach: Brownson Technical School Teaches Evenings or Weekends
- UEI College-GardenaThe diploma is offered in hybrid (online classes plus on-campus labs) and in-residence formats, with new classes starting monthly; it can be completed in as few as 10 months.
- UEI College-Garden GroveThe diploma is offered in hybrid (online classes plus on-campus labs) and in-residence formats, with new classes starting monthly; it can be completed in as few as 10 months.
- American College of Healthcare and Technology in Huntington Park, CAThe diploma takes about 9 months (36 weeks) with monthly starts and is delivered in a blended format that combines synchronous and asynchronous online classes with on-campus labs.
Also publishing schedules: UEI College-Huntington Park (15 miles) and Brownson Technical School (15 miles). See each profile for times.
Questions About HVAC Schools in Long Beach
How Much Do HVAC Schools in Long Beach Cost?
Compton College charges the least, $1,142 a year full time in 2024–25 (in-state); Cypress College charges $1,150. Tools and books cost extra (Compton College budgets $1,062 for books and supplies).
How Long Does HVAC School Take Near Long Beach?
It depends on the credential. At Compton College, the closest program that publishes lengths, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration A.S. runs 36 major units. 3 of the 8 schools near Long Beach also offer an associate degree, which usually takes about two years full time.
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Long Beach?
HVAC mechanics and installers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $73,830 a year (BLS, May 2025), 21% above the U.S. median of $61,010. The top 10% earn more than $109,010.
What Is the Best HVAC School Near Long Beach?
El Camino Community College District scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the HVAC schools within 60 miles, with 91 HVAC awards in 2024–25. Brownson Technical School ranks second.
Where Can You Get EPA 608 Certified Near Long Beach?
Compton College, UEI College-Gardena and El Camino Community College District name EPA 608 preparation or testing on their HVAC program pages.
Are There Night HVAC Classes Near Long Beach?
Yes. Brownson Technical School (15 miles) publishes evening or weekend classes. Each school profile has its full schedule.
HVAC Programs Near Long Beach but Farther Out
- Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa17 miles
- Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Los Angeles18 miles
- Hacienda La Puente Adult Education, La Puente21 miles
- Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education, Baldwin Park25 miles
Latest Posts From the Blog
All posts
California · Cost
How Much Does HVAC School Cost in California?
California HVAC costs by school: community colleges charge $1,124 to $1,696 a year in state, while private schools price whole programs at $10,388 to $26,444.
California · Training
Where Can You Train for Commercial Refrigeration in California?
California schools that teach commercial refrigeration, from Merced College's Commercial Refrigeration AS to Mt. SAC's supermarket refrigeration degree.
California · Salary
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in California?
California HVAC technicians earn a median $72,560 a year ($34.88 an hour), per May 2025 BLS data. See pay by metro, from Napa and San Jose to Fresno.
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.