What Are the Best HVAC Schools in South Carolina?
- Tri-County Technical College (Pendleton) offers Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning Technology, A.A.S. and HVAC Residential Certificate (listed on the college website as HVAC Installer).
- Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood) offers Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technology, A.A.S. and Refrigeration Applications, Certificate.
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College (Conway) offers Residential Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Service Technician (HVAC) Certificate and Commercial Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Certificate.
- Tuition and fees run from $4,448 to $14,777 a year (2024–25).
- 12 of 14 South Carolina programs name EPA 608 preparation or testing.
- South Carolina HVAC technicians earn a median $56,610 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Tri-County Technical College Leads the South Carolina HVAC School Rankings
| # | School | Tuition and fees | HVAC awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tri-County Technical CollegePendleton | $4,448 | 39 | 42% |
| 2 | Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood | $4,775 | 64 | 33% |
| 3 | Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeConway | $4,468 | 52 | 38% |
| 4 | Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence | $4,636 | 39 | 34% |
| 5 | Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia | $5,100 | 40 | 18% |
| 6 | Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville | $5,495 | 100 | 21% |
| 7 | Fortis College-ColumbiaColumbia | $14,777 | 72 | |
| 8 | Trident Technical CollegeCharleston | $4,546 | 37 | 30% |
| 9 | Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg | $5,071 | 38 | 28% |
| 10 | Aiken Technical CollegeGraniteville | $5,174 | 10 | 34% |
| 11 | Central Carolina Technical CollegeSumter | $5,715 | 12 | 34% |
| 12 | Williamsburg Technical CollegeKingstree | $4,488 | 13 | 15% |
| 13 | York Technical CollegeRock Hill | $8,036 | 14 | 30% |
| 14 | Technical College of the LowcountryBeaufort | $6,156 | 6 | 18% |
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 South Carolina HVAC Schools
Each South Carolina 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 South Carolina by Goal
HVAC Programs in South Carolina Near West Columbia, Beaufort and Charleston
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.
- West ColumbiaFortis College-Columbia and Midlands Technical College
- BeaufortTechnical College of the Lowcountry
- CharlestonTrident Technical College
- ConwayHorry-Georgetown Technical College
- FlorenceFlorence-Darlington Technical College
- GranitevilleAiken Technical College
- GreenvilleGreenville Technical College
- GreenwoodPiedmont Technical College
HVAC Schools in South Carolina, School by School
1Tri-County Technical College
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,448 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 39 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
2Piedmont Technical College
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,775 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 64 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
3Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,468 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 52 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
4Florence-Darlington Technical College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,636 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 39 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps · Controls
5Midlands Technical College
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,100 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 40 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
6Greenville Technical College
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,495 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 100 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
7Fortis College-Columbia
Offers a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $14,777 all students, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 72 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
8Trident Technical College
Offers an associate degree, 3 certificates and one other award in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,546 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 37 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
9Spartanburg Community College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,071 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 38 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
10Aiken Technical College
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,174 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 10 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
11Central Carolina Technical College
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $5,715 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 12 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
12Williamsburg Technical College
Offers 2 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $4,488 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 13 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
13York Technical College
Offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $8,036 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 14 conferred 2024–25
Covers Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps · Ductwork
14Technical College of the Lowcountry
Offers 4 certificates in HVAC
- Tuition / year
- $6,156 in-district, 2024–25
- HVAC awards
- 6 conferred 2024–25
Covers EPA 608 · Refrigeration · Electrical · Heating · Air conditioning · Heat pumps
Tuition and HVAC awards: NCES College Navigator. Programs and topics: each school's own HVAC page, reviewed September 2026.
What HVAC School Costs in South Carolina: $4,448 to $14,777 a Year
Among the 14 South Carolina HVAC schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $4,448 at Tri-County Technical College to $14,777 at Fortis College-Columbia.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton | $4,448 (in-district) |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | $4,468 (in-district) |
| Williamsburg Technical College | Kingstree | $4,488 (in-district) |
| Trident Technical College | Charleston | $4,546 (in-district) |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | $4,636 (in-district) |
| Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood | $4,775 (in-district) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Evening HVAC Classes in South Carolina: 9 Programs
Schedules as each school publishes them. Ask about start dates and evening sections before you apply.
- Central Carolina Technical CollegeEach certificate follows a fall, spring and summer sequence. The basic certificate runs during the day or through the college's Evening College layout, which may use a different sequence and take longer; the advanced certificate runs during the day.
- Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeBoth the associate degree and the certificate list day and evening class times.
- Fortis College-ColumbiaClasses meet Monday through Thursday in a morning session (8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) or an evening session (6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.).
- Greenville Technical CollegeAll HVAC/R classes are offered during the day or in the evening, and students can enter the certificates any semester with department head approval.
- Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeThe residential certificate starts in the fall semester only and publishes a two-semester daytime plan and a four-semester nighttime plan. The commercial certificate is a one-semester follow-on for students who have finished the residential certificate.
- Midlands Technical CollegeDay classes start in the fall and spring semesters; night classes start in the fall only and cover the certificate and diploma courses. The non-credit training certificate runs through Corporate and Continuing Education and students register course by course without applying to the college.
- Spartanburg Community CollegeThe certificate starts in fall and runs three terms, day or evening. The associate degree can start any term and runs five day terms; it pairs the HVAC specialty with a 12-credit secondary technical specialty such as motor controls, AC/DC circuits or hydraulics and pneumatics.
- Technical College of the LowcountryDay and evening courses are offered, and each certificate can be finished in two or three semesters.
- Tri-County Technical CollegeThe associate degree and the Apprentice and Installer certificates are taught face to face at the Pendleton Campus, with day and evening course scheduling.
HVAC Technician Salary in South Carolina: The Charlotte Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | HVAC jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia | $59,840 | $79,210 | 3,860 |
| Florence | $58,790 | $81,420 | 180 |
| Greenville–Anderson–Greer | $58,760 | $77,520 | 1,160 |
| Charleston–North Charleston | $58,410 | $77,060 | 1,270 |
| Hilton Head Island–Bluffton–Port Royal | $58,280 | $74,620 | 420 |
| Spartanburg | $57,790 | $76,920 | 390 |
| Columbia | $57,610 | $73,830 | 1,220 |
| Myrtle Beach–Conway–North Myrtle Beach | $54,230 | $72,930 | 630 |
| Sumter | $49,880 | $73,990 | 110 |
| Augusta–Richmond County | $48,900 | $72,850 | 620 |
Annual wages for HVAC mechanics and installers in South Carolina (6,920 jobs); U.S. median $61,010. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
HVAC Schools by City in South Carolina
HVAC Schools in Nearby States
HVAC Schools in South Carolina: FAQ
How Much Does HVAC School Cost in South Carolina?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the South Carolina schools on this page run from $4,448 to $14,777 a year, before tools and books. Community colleges publish their in-district rate.
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in South Carolina?
BLS estimates a median of $56,610 a year for HVAC mechanics and installers in South Carolina (May 2025), across 6,920 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,170 and the top 10% more than $75,530.
What Is the Best HVAC School in South Carolina?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Tri-County Technical College ranks first among South Carolina schools with verified HVAC programs, followed by Piedmont Technical College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
How Many HVAC Schools Are in South Carolina?
14 schools have a current HVAC program in South Carolina, each checked against the school's own program page, and 8 offer an associate degree. IPEDS counts 14 South Carolina schools that awarded HVAC credentials in 2022–23.
What Is the Most Affordable HVAC School in South Carolina?
Tri-County Technical College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among South Carolina HVAC schools with federal figures: $4,448 for a full-time year (in-district). Horry-Georgetown Technical College ($4,468) and Williamsburg Technical College ($4,488) follow.
Are There Evening HVAC Classes in South Carolina?
Yes. 9 HVAC programs in South Carolina publish evening classes, including Central Carolina Technical College, Florence-Darlington Technical College and Fortis College-Columbia.
Where Can You Get EPA 608 Certified in South Carolina?
Aiken Technical College, Central Carolina Technical College and Fortis College-Columbia and 9 other South Carolina 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 South Carolina and your city.
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More on HVAC Training in South Carolina
Sources
- Official HVAC program pages of the 14 South Carolina 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.