2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Pennsylvania
[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.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools.
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2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
Westmoreland County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $14,728. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Delaware County Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Students borrow a median of $21,136 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $65,167. Set against $21,136 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Community College Of Allegheny County one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $23,623 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $57,189 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montgomery County Community College earned it the #4 place for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,690, while out-of-state students pay about $17,250. Students borrow a median of $20,025 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $48,626. Set against $20,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,975, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,150 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $62,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Luzerne County Community College came in at #6 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,600, compared with $16,260 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,741 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $51,058. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown earned the #7 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Johnstown. Students from in state pay about $14,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,780 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $23,556 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $48,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Central Pennsylvania College came in at #8 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the suburb of Summerdale, Central Pennsylvania College is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,854. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $40,957 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Central Pennsylvania College generally make around $45,051. Set against $40,957 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 18%.
Reading Hospital School Of Health Sciences placed #9 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Reading, Reading Hospital School Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,516 in tuition and fees. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $25,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Reading Hospital School Of Health Sciences generally make around $54,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Reading Hospital School Of Health Sciences admits about 29% of applicants.
Mount Aloysius College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the town of Cresson, Mount Aloysius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,545. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $22,582 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Mount Aloysius College earn a median of $52,639 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,582 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Great Lakes Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the suburb of Erie, Great Lakes Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $21,253 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $45,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carlow University placed #12 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $35,874 in tuition and fees. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $36,875 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Carlow University earn a median of $66,938 early in their careers. Set against $36,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carlow University admits about 87% of applicants.
Lackawanna College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of Scranton, Lackawanna College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,400. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $24,875. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $65,584. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt.
Alvernia University placed #14 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Reading, Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,000. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $31,900. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $53,960. That is a strong return on a $31,900 median debt. Alvernia University admits about 58% of applicants.
Mccann School Of Business And Technology Lewisburg earned the #15 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Mccann School Of Business And Technology Lewisburg is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $27,386. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Mccann School Of Business And Technology Lewisburg generally make around $37,084. Set against $27,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Josephs University earned the #16 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,260. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $26,426. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $65,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,426 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences landed the #17 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the rural area of Lancaster, Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,933. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $61,111. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
