The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry, or HVAC, is on the rise. Over the next five years, this lucrative field expects continued growth and anticipates a need for well-trained technicians.
Making a living in the HVAC industry often required earning an apprenticeship with a certified training program. Today, many local colleges now offer HVAC studies. Students can pursue a traditional higher education while learning the ins and outs of the HVAC trade.
Vocational schools and technical institutes are also an option.
If you’re worried about the cost, applying for scholarships is the best way to ease your financial burden. These are a few of the best HVAC scholarships available to HVAC students.
ASHRAE Society Scholarships
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) provides plenty of opportunities for HVAC students.
Eligibility requirements include maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher and being enrolled as a full-time student at an ASHRAE-approved institution. You’ll also need to submit three letters of recommendation and signal a continued interest in HVAC engineering.
ASHRAE awards numerous scholarships every year, with the most lucrative being their $10,000 awards. The Willis H. Carrier Scholarship grants one student $10,000 toward their education, while the Reuben Trane Scholarship awards $5,000 a year for two years.
They also award four $5,000 scholarships a year. One of these, the Lynn G. Bellenger Scholarship, is only offered to women. ASHRAE also offers three $3,000 scholarships.
While that rounds out the list of ASHRAE’s larger awards, they also have many smaller scholarships you may be eligible for.
The EGIA Foundation HVAC Scholarship
The Electric and Gas Industries Association (EGIA) offers up to 20 scholarships annually to eligible HVAC students. Each scholarship is worth $2,500.
To be eligible, you’ll need to be a legal resident of the U.S. and be pursuing an associate’s degree or certification in an HVAC program. You’ll also need a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
The EGIA reserves the right to give preference to applicants between the ages of 18 and 26. This is a scholarship designed to bring youth into the HVAC field.
Act quickly if this scholarship is of interest to you. In most years, the EGIA considers only the first 350 applicants.
Rees Scholarship Foundation
Since its creation in 2003, this foundation has awarded over $1 million in scholarship awards. It remains committed to the goal of drawing promising young craftsmen to the HVAC field and awards many $2,000 scholarships every school year.
If you choose to apply, be ready to supply two letters of recommendation and a 500-word essay detailing your goals within the HVAC industry.
Among the Rees Foundation’s programs, you’ll find specific scholarships available to veterans of the United States military, programs reserved exclusively for residents of Florida, and a program for those looking to specialize in water heating.
NAWIC Founders’ Scholarship Program
The National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) offers over $100,000 in scholarship awards annually. The awards range in value from $500 to $2,500.
To be eligible for their undergraduate scholarship, you’ll need to be enrolled in an eligible course of study in the field of construction and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Current high school seniors and those seeking assistance with graduate programs are not eligible for this award.
In addition to their undergraduate scholarship, NAWIC also offers scholarships for those pursuing a graduate degree and a scholarship in Construction Trades.
PlumbersStock.com Scholarship
Despite its name, the PlumbersStock.com scholarship is open to anyone studying the fields of plumbing, HVAC, construction, and home improvement.
This is a scholarship for the creatively inclined applicant. Instead of a traditional application, those seeking this award will make a 10-minute video. It should detail their expertise within the plumbing or HVAC industry. The video will be in the format of the popular “How To” style of video.
The winner receives an award of $2,000 to be put toward their education. Two runners-up will receive $500.
Women in HVACR Scholarship
The HVAC field is largely a male-dominated industry, but the Women in HVACR Scholarship is looking to change that. This scholarship is exclusively for women looking to break into the HVAC field.
Every year, they award numerous scholarships of up to $2,000 to women of all ages pursuing a career in the HVAC field. If you’re a high school senior and know you want to pursue a career in HVAC after graduation, this scholarship is perfect for you.
It’s open to women who are enrolled in a trade school, vocational school, or a bachelor’s program. You’ll need a GPA of 2.0 or higher if you’re looking to apply this scholarship towards your education at a vocational school. You need a GPA of 3.0 or higher if you’re attending a bachelor’s program.
PHCC Education Foundation Scholarships
The Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Foundation offers over $100,000 in scholarship funds across 56 different scholarship opportunities. The awards are for students seeking an education in plumbing, heating, and air conditioning.
Their most lucrative scholarships award $10,000 to three applicants and $5,000 to four applicants. Other amounts awarded range from $1,000 to $2,500.
To apply for these scholarships, you’ll need to be enrolled in a recognized program at a trade school or university. You could also be working as an apprentice in a program certified by the PHCC.
The PHCC Education Foundation Scholarship is one of the few HVAC scholarships open to those hoping to get a bachelor’s degree in AutoCad design or construction management.
HVAC Scholarships Can Get You the Money You Need
Pursuing a career in HVAC is a worthwhile endeavor. Whether you’re a high school senior looking for financial aid, an apprentice looking for help with your classes, or pursuing a graduate degree in the HVAC industry, there are plenty of HVAC scholarships available to you.
With some scholarships offering up to $10,000 in award money, it’s in your best interest to apply to as many as you can. In most cases, you’ll need to be enrolled in an eligible HVAC program and work hard to maintain good academic standing.
For more information on what it’s like to work in the HVAC field, head over to HVAC Training HQ. Their blog is full of valuable information for people just like you.