What Are the Best HVAC Schools in Illinois?
- Elgin Community College (Elgin) offers Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration - Associate of Applied Science and HVAC Facilities Maintenance Tech - Vocational Specialist.
- Moraine Valley Community College (Palos Hills) offers Heating and Air Conditioning Certificate and Basic Air Conditioning Technician Certificate.
- William Rainey Harper College (Palatine) offers Refrigeration/Air Conditioning Technology AAS and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Service Certificate.
- Tuition and fees run from $3,252 to $16,699 a year (2024–25).
- 17 of 32 Illinois programs name EPA 608 preparation or testing.
- Illinois HVAC technicians earn a median $77,410 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Elgin Community College Leads the Illinois 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.
How We Ranked Illinois HVAC Schools
Each Illinois school with a verified, current HVAC program and federal figures gets a percentile score among its in-state peers: program size (35%, HVAC awards conferred), cost (25%, lowest tuition and fees), completion (25%, school-wide graduation rate) and credential ladder (15%, both certificates and associate degrees awarded). Federal data can't measure instructors or lab equipment, so visit the lab before you enroll.
Best HVAC Schools in Illinois by Goal
HVAC Programs in Illinois Near Cicero, Springfield and Belleville
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.
- CiceroHVAC Technical Institute and Morton College
- SpringfieldLincoln Land Community College and Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois
- BellevilleSouthwestern Illinois College
- CartervilleJohn A. Logan College
- CentraliaKaskaskia College
- ChampaignParkland College
- ChicagoCity Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
- Chicago HeightsPrairie State College
HVAC Schools in Illinois, School by School
1Elgin Community College
Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $3,252 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 111 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Heat pumps · Controls · Ductwork
2Moraine Valley Community College
Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $3,822 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 109 conferred 2024–25
Covers Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Ductwork · Commercial
3William Rainey Harper College
Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $3,894 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 55 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Ductwork
4Southwestern Illinois College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $3,960 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 44 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
5College of Lake County
Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,788 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 250 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
6Oakton College
Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $3,985 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 28 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning
7Lincoln Land Community College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $3,744 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 34 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning
8ETI School of Skilled Trades
Offers one other award in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 268 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Ductwork
9Illinois Central College
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,800 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 51 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Heating · Ductwork · Commercial
10Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 259 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
11Waubonsee Community College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $3,504 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 27 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
12College of DuPage
Offers 3 associate degrees and 5 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,560 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 73 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls
13Chicago Professional Center
Offers 2 other awards in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 180 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
14HVAC Technical Institute
Offers one other award in HVAC
- HVAC awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- HVAC awards
- 155 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
15City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,590 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 33 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Ductwork · Commercial
16John A. Logan College
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,630 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 9 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps · Controls
17Rockford Career College
Offers a diploma in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $16,699 all students, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 37 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls · Commercial
18Lake Land College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,415 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 11 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps · Ductwork
19Richland Community College
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,680 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 21 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning
20Kankakee Community College
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,220 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 32 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Ductwork · Commercial
21Shawnee Community College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,650 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 3 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls
22Danville Area Community College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,440 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 19 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
23Joliet Junior College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,530 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 16 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
24Kaskaskia College
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,800 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 24 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps · Controls
25Parkland College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,284 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 6 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning
26Illinois Valley Community College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,200 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 2 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Controls · Ductwork · Commercial
27Sauk Valley Community College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,340 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 11 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning
28Olney Central College (Illinois Eastern Community Colleges)
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,260 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 3 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
29Prairie State College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,176 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 14 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Controls
30John Wood Community College
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,700 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 1 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
31Morton College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,502 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 6 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Heating · Air conditioning · Commercial
32Triton College
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,070 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 5 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Controls · Commercial
Tuition and HVAC awards: NCES College Navigator. Programs and topics: each school's own HVAC page, reviewed September 2026.
What HVAC School Costs in Illinois: $3,252 to $16,699 a Year
Among the 28 Illinois HVAC schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $3,252 at Elgin Community College to $16,699 at Rockford Career College.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | $3,252 (in-district) |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | $3,504 (in-district) |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | $3,744 (in-district) |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | $3,822 (in-district) |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | $3,894 (in-district) |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | $3,960 (in-district) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Evening HVAC Classes in Illinois: 6 Programs
Schedules as each school publishes them. Ask about start dates and evening sections before you apply.
- Chicago Professional CenterMorning classes run 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and evening classes 6 to 10 p.m. The six-month Maintenance PLC course offers a paid internship of up to 20 hours a week for up to four weeks after completion.
- College of DuPageIn-person and hybrid formats, with day, evening and online learning.
- ETI School of Skilled TradesDay and evening classes are offered. Students complete a senior project near the end of the program.
- HVAC Technical InstituteDay and evening classes are offered, and the full HVAC/R program is taught in English and Spanish. Class sizes are capped at 20.
- Illinois Valley Community CollegeCore HVAC courses are taught in the evening, face to face, with lecture and lab.
- Prairie State CollegeDaytime and evening courses are offered, with optional internships.
HVAC Technician Salary in Illinois: The Peoria Area Pays the Most
For pay by metro area and job, see HVAC Technician Salary in Illinois.
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | HVAC jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $78,710 | $105,450 | 370 |
| Chicago–Naperville–Elgin | $77,960 | $117,940 | 7,210 |
| Decatur | $77,770 | $107,540 | 90 |
| Rockford | $75,070 | $117,550 | 190 |
| Champaign–Urbana | $74,880 | $111,660 | 240 |
| Springfield | $70,730 | $101,000 | 110 |
| Davenport–Moline–Rock Island | $65,190 | $100,270 | 410 |
| Bloomington | $64,030 | $91,500 | 140 |
| St. Louis | $63,000 | $100,180 | 2,980 |
| Kankakee | $62,570 | $97,870 | 50 |
Annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in Illinois (9,740 jobs); U.S. median $61,010. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
HVAC Schools by City in Illinois
HVAC Schools in Nearby States
HVAC Schools in Illinois: FAQ
How Much Does HVAC School Cost in Illinois?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Illinois schools on this page run from $3,252 to $16,699 a year, before tools and books. Community colleges publish their in-district rate.
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Illinois?
BLS estimates a median of $77,410 a year for HVAC mechanics and installers in Illinois (May 2025), across 9,740 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,690 and the top 10% more than $117,550.
What Is the Best HVAC School in Illinois?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Elgin Community College ranks first among Illinois schools with verified HVAC programs, followed by Moraine Valley Community College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
How Many HVAC Schools Are in Illinois?
32 schools have a current HVAC program in Illinois, each checked against the school's own program page, and 17 offer an associate degree. IPEDS counts 31 Illinois schools that awarded HVAC credentials in 2022–23.
What Is the Most Affordable HVAC School in Illinois?
Elgin Community College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Illinois HVAC schools with federal figures: $3,252 for a full-time year (in-district). Waubonsee Community College ($3,504) and Lincoln Land Community College ($3,744) follow.
Are There Evening HVAC Classes in Illinois?
Yes. 6 HVAC programs in Illinois publish evening classes, including Chicago Professional Center, College of DuPage and ETI School of Skilled Trades.
Where Can You Get EPA 608 Certified in Illinois?
Chicago Professional Center, College of Lake County and Elgin Community College and 14 other Illinois schools name EPA 608 preparation or testing on their HVAC program pages. The certification itself comes from an EPA-approved certifying organization.
Do I Need a License to Work in HVAC?
EPA Section 608 certification is required nationwide for refrigerant work. Some states and localities also require HVAC technicians to be licensed, so check with Illinois and your city.
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Illinois · Salary
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in Illinois?
Illinois HVAC technicians earned a median $77,410 in May 2025 ($37.21 an hour), well above the national $61,010. See pay by metro and where to train.
National · Cost
What HVAC Students Spend on Books, Tools and Supplies
HVAC books and supplies run from $500 a year at St. Philip's College to $3,864 at Sampson Community College. See what schools list and what's included.
Florida · Cost
How Much Does HVAC School Cost in Florida?
Florida HVAC tuition by school: state colleges from $2,026 a year, technical colleges from $2,000 for a whole program, private schools up to $20,025.
More on HVAC Training in Illinois
Sources
- Official HVAC program pages of the 32 Illinois schools above (each profile links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022–23 and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. EPA, Section 608 technician certification.