Is HVAC School in San Bernardino Worth the Cost?
- Median HVAC pay in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area: $64,300, against $61,010 nationally (BLS, May 2025).
- San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino, 4 miles away, offers Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Associate of Science Degree and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate of Achievement.
- Summit College in San Bernardino, 5 miles away, offers HVAC Certificate of Completion.
- CET-Colton in Colton, 6 miles away, offers HVAC Technician & Green Technology.
- EPA 608: 6 of these 8 schools name EPA 608 preparation or testing.
HVAC Technician Pay Around San Bernardino
Annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (4,820 jobs); U.S. median $61,010. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Compare HVAC Programs Near San Bernardino
| School | Distance | Tuition and fees | HVAC awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino | 4 miles | $1,196 | 10 | 28% |
| Summit CollegeSan Bernardino | 5 miles | 88 | ||
| CET-ColtonColton | 6 miles | 16 | ||
| UEI College-RiversideRiverside | 12 miles | 460 | ||
| Riverside City CollegeRiverside | 13 miles | $1,428 | 144 | 37% |
| UEI College-OntarioOntario | 15 miles | 254 | ||
| San Joaquin Valley College-OntarioOntario | 16 miles | 31 | ||
| Chaffey CollegeChino | 16 miles | $1,184 | 6 | 36% |
HVAC programs near San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino for What You Need
HVAC Schools in San Bernardino: Riverside City College and 7 Others
Riverside City College
Offers 2 associate degrees and 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,428 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 144 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls
UEI College-Riverside
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 460 conferred 2024–25
The most HVAC awards nearby (460 in 2024–25); some coursework online.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
UEI College-Ontario
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 254 conferred 2024–25
Some coursework online.
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-Ontario
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 31 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Ductwork
Chaffey College
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,184 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 6 conferred 2024–25
The lowest tuition of the 3 HVAC schools here ($1,184).
Covers EPA 608 · Electrical · Heating · Heat pumps · Controls · 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 closest campus to San Bernardino; a degree option on top of certificates.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Controls · Commercial
Tuition and HVAC awards: NCES College Navigator. Programs and topics: each school's own HVAC page, reviewed September 2026. Distances are straight-line from San Bernardino.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near San Bernardino?
Summit College, CET-Colton and UEI College-Riverside offer certificates or diplomas only; San Bernardino Valley College, Riverside City College and San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario also award an HVAC associate degree, which adds general education and usually takes about two years full time.
- San Bernardino Valley CollegeHeating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Associate of Science Degree: 31 major units plus general education; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate of Achievement: 31 units
- Summit CollegeHVAC Certificate of Completion: 720 clock hours; 54 quarter credits; 32 weeks
- CET-ColtonHVAC Technician & Green Technology: 900 hours (8-9 months at 30 hours a week)
HVAC Classes in San Bernardino: When Programs Meet
- Summit CollegeThe program runs 32 weeks on ground with lecture and lab (360 lecture and 360 lab hours); the website says it can be completed in as few as 9 months.
- CET-ColtonStudents 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.
- UEI College-RiversideThe 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.
Also publishing schedules: UEI College-Ontario (15 miles) and San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario (16 miles). See each profile for times.
Questions About HVAC Schools in San Bernardino
How Much Do HVAC Schools in San Bernardino Cost?
Chaffey College charges the least, $1,184 a year full time in 2024–25 (in-state); Riverside City College charges $1,428. Tools and books cost extra (Chaffey College budgets $1,062 for books and supplies).
How Long Does HVAC School Take Near San Bernardino?
It depends on the credential. At San Bernardino Valley College, the closest program that publishes lengths, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Associate of Science Degree runs 31 major units plus general education. 3 of the 8 schools near San Bernardino also offer an associate degree, which usually takes about two years full time.
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in San Bernardino?
HVAC mechanics and installers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $64,300 a year (BLS, May 2025), 5% above the U.S. median of $61,010. The top 10% earn more than $95,910.
What Is the Best HVAC School Near San Bernardino?
Riverside City College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the HVAC schools within 60 miles, with 144 HVAC awards in 2024–25. UEI College-Riverside ranks second.
Where Can You Get EPA 608 Certified Near San Bernardino?
San Bernardino Valley College, Summit College and CET-Colton name EPA 608 preparation or testing on their HVAC program pages.
HVAC Programs Near San Bernardino but Farther Out
- InterCoast Colleges-Riverside, Riverside18 miles
- San Joaquin Valley College-Hesperia, Hesperia20 miles
- American College of Healthcare and Technology in Riverside, CA, Riverside20 miles
- Mt San Antonio College, Walnut32 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.