Is HVAC School in San Jose Worth the Cost?
- Median HVAC pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area: $82,050, against $61,010 nationally (BLS, May 2025).
- CET-San Jose in San Jose, 4 miles away, offers HVAC Technician & Green Technology.
- San Jose City College in San Jose, 6 miles away, offers Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Associate in Science and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Certificate of Achievement Level 2.
- Institute for Business and Technology in San Jose, 10 miles away, offers Commercial Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning Diploma.
- EPA 608: 4 of these 8 schools name EPA 608 preparation or testing.
HVAC Technician Pay Around San Jose
Annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area (1,740 jobs); U.S. median $61,010. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Compare HVAC Programs Near San Jose
| School | Distance | Tuition and fees | HVAC awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CET-San JoseSan Jose | 4 miles | 33 | ||
| San Jose City CollegeSan Jose | 6 miles | $1,366 | 62 | 34% |
| Institute for Business and TechnologySan Jose | 10 miles | 173 | ||
| Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills | 18 miles | $1,565 | 106 | 56% |
| Gavilan CollegeGilroy | 26 miles | $1,508 | 22 | 42% |
| Laney CollegeOakland | 43 miles | $1,258 | 29 | 31% |
| City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco | 46 miles | $1,696 | 15 | 40% |
| DeHart Technical SchoolModesto | 53 miles | 69 |
HVAC programs near San Jose, 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 Jose for What You Need
HVAC Schools in San Jose: Foothill College and 7 Others
Foothill College
Offers 2 associate degrees and 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,565 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 106 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers Refrigeration · Air conditioning · Controls · Ductwork · Commercial
San Jose City College
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,366 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 62 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls
Institute for Business and Technology
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 173 conferred 2024–25
The most HVAC awards nearby (173 in 2024–25).
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
DeHart Technical School
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 69 conferred 2024–25
Evening or weekend classes; some coursework online.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning
Gavilan College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,508 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 22 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps · Controls
Laney College
Offers 3 associate degrees and 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $1,258 in-state, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 29 conferred 2024–25
The lowest tuition of the 5 HVAC schools here ($1,258); a degree option on top of certificates.
Covers Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Commercial
CET-San Jose
Offers one other award in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 33 conferred 2024–25
The closest campus to San Jose.
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · 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 San Jose.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near San Jose?
CET-San Jose, Institute for Business and Technology and Gavilan College offer certificates or diplomas only; San Jose City College, Foothill College and Laney College also award an HVAC associate degree, which adds general education and usually takes about two years full time.
- CET-San JoseHVAC Technician & Green Technology: 900 hours (8-9 months at 30 hours a week)
- San Jose City CollegeAir Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Associate in Science: 60-60.5 units (31.5-32 major units); Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Certificate of Achievement Level 2: 20.5 units; Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Certificate of Achievement Level 3: 32 units
- Institute for Business and TechnologyCommercial Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning Diploma: as few as 10.5 months
HVAC Classes in San Jose: DeHart Technical School Teaches Evenings or Weekends
- CET-San JoseStudents 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.
- San Jose City CollegeStudents can add work experience credit (AIRC 138).
- Institute for Business and TechnologyThe diploma is delivered on site, full time, and can be completed in as few as 10.5 months.
Also publishing schedules: Foothill College (18 miles), City College of San Francisco (46 miles) and DeHart Technical School (53 miles). See each profile for times.
Questions About HVAC Schools in San Jose
How Much Do HVAC Schools in San Jose Cost?
Laney College charges the least, $1,258 a year full time in 2024–25 (in-state); City College of San Francisco charges $1,696. Tools and books cost extra (Laney College budgets $1,492 for books and supplies).
How Long Does HVAC School Take Near San Jose?
It depends on the credential. At CET-San Jose, the closest program that publishes lengths, HVAC Technician & Green Technology runs 900 hours (8-9 months at 30 hours a week). 4 of the 8 schools near San Jose also offer an associate degree, which usually takes about two years full time.
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in San Jose?
HVAC mechanics and installers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $82,050 a year (BLS, May 2025), 34% above the U.S. median of $61,010. The top 10% earn more than $136,650.
What Is the Best HVAC School Near San Jose?
Foothill College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the HVAC schools within 60 miles, with 106 HVAC awards in 2024–25. San Jose City College ranks second.
Where Can You Get EPA 608 Certified Near San Jose?
CET-San Jose, San Jose City College and Institute for Business and Technology name EPA 608 preparation or testing on their HVAC program pages.
Are There Night HVAC Classes Near San Jose?
Yes. DeHart Technical School (53 miles) publishes evening or weekend classes. Each school profile has its full schedule.
HVAC Programs Near San Jose but Farther Out
- San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton56 miles
- UEI College-Stockton, Stockton56 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.