by our College Data Analytics Team
[Surgical Technology/Technologist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/surgical-technology-technologist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong surgical technology/technologist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 501 schools to find the best return on investment for surgical technology/technologist students.
What’s on this page:
The surgical technology/technologist program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Skyline College earned the #1 spot for value among surgical technology/technologist schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
St Petersburg College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $16,000. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $62,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Students borrow a median of $11,699 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $60,744 early in their careers. Set against $11,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #4 place for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $15,926 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $73,102. Set against $15,926 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pima Community College earned it the #5 place for surgical technology/technologist. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,993 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $47,906 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Frederick Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,849, compared with $10,042 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,348 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Frederick Community College earn a median of $59,579 early in their careers. Set against $16,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #7 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,833. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $57,486. Set against $10,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College placed #8 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $14,685 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earn a median of $50,801 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Durham Technical Community College earned the #9 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Regional Technical College came in at #10 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Southern Regional Technical College earn a median of $50,076 early in their careers. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College landed the #11 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $9,750. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $46,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gulf Coast State College came in at #12 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,635. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $9,423. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $47,500 early in their careers. Set against $9,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #13 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,268, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,812 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Coastal Pines Technical College generally make around $45,656. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #14 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,949 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $44,916. That is a strong return on a $16,949 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #15 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,422 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $61,455 early in their careers. Set against $16,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #16 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $14,870. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $52,018. That is a strong return on a $14,870 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $12,924 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $46,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Georgia Technical College came in at #18 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Students borrow a median of $10,432 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from West Georgia Technical College generally make around $39,922. Set against $10,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $11,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $58,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College came in at #20 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Students borrow a median of $18,752 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $56,165. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lansing Community College landed the #21 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $20,172. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $57,457. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College placed #22 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $54,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henry Ford Community College earned the #23 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $20,828. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $58,792. That is a strong return on a $20,828 median debt.
Clover Park Technical College placed #24 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,634. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $19,755. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $60,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $25,418. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $54,371. Set against $25,418 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in surgical technology/technologist:
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Also worth considering for value in surgical technology/technologist:
| Rank | College | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | York Technical College | Rock Hill, SC | Full Report |
Surgical Technology/Technologist is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 501 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 251 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.