2026 Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Pharmacy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/pharmacy-technician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pharmacy technician/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools
Leading the list is Hutchinson Community College, our #1 best value for pharmacy technician/assistant in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,770. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $19,500. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $42,285 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in pharmacy technician/assistant will find it at Central Community College, which ranked #2. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $37,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes State Fair Community College one of the best values for pharmacy technician/assistant. State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $7,416. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $15,328. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of State Fair Community College earn a median of $39,168 early in their careers. Set against $15,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pharmacy technician/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,964 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $37,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian Hills Community College earned it the #5 place for pharmacy technician/assistant. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,316 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Indian Hills Community College earn a median of $49,626 early in their careers. Set against $19,316 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #6 among the best values for pharmacy technician/assistant. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $37,483. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,616 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $33,912. Set against $18,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Students borrow a median of $13,139 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $46,447. That is a strong return on a $13,139 median debt.
North Dakota State College Of Science landed the #9 spot for pharmacy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,974 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,973. Students borrow a median of $15,706 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of North Dakota State College Of Science earn a median of $48,989 early in their careers. Set against $15,706 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hennepin Technical College earned the #10 position for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $52,059. Set against $17,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Missouri College came in at #11 for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trenton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Students borrow a median of $16,685 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from North Central Missouri College generally make around $40,934. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Barton County Community College came in at #12 for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Set in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,680, with out-of-state students paying around $4,960. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $14,792. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Barton County Community College generally make around $44,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Anoka Ramsey Community College placed #13 among the best values for pharmacy technician/assistant. Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids. Students from in state pay about $5,682 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Anoka Ramsey Community College earn a median of $39,442 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northland Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Thief River Falls. Students from in state pay about $6,289 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $23,750. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College generally make around $42,509. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $24,036 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $43,164. Set against $24,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Technical Institute ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,650. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,442 in student loans. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Southeast Technical Institute earn a median of $48,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,442 median debt.
North Central Kansas Technical College came in at #17 for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,928.
Wichita Technical Institute ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Technical Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $25,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #19 spot for pharmacy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,327 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $32,441. That is a strong return on a $20,327 median debt.
Narrow Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools by State
More Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Rankings
View All Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.