2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Surgical Technology/Technologist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/surgical-technology-technologist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 22 schools to find the best return on investment for surgical technology/technologist students.
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2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
For return on investment in surgical technology/technologist, no school beat Laramie County Community College this year. Set in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,613 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,913. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $16,120. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $64,082. Set against $16,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Southern Idaho came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. College Of Southern Idaho is a large public school located in the city of Twin Falls. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Students borrow a median of $11,940 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $54,939 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Salt Lake Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $54,072. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at College Of Western Idaho, which ranked #4. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $12,740 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $53,281.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Eastern Idaho Technical College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Idaho Falls, Eastern Idaho Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $6,750. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,548. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $60,107. Set against $10,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Denver earned the #6 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $28,443 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $64,980 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Flathead Valley Community College landed the #7 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the town of Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,912, compared with $11,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $16,094. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Flathead Valley Community College earn a median of $45,868 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,094 median debt.
Aims Community College placed #8 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $11,375. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $48,894. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #9 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $4,510 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Great Falls College Montana State University earned the #10 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Great Falls College Montana State University is a small public school located in the city of Great Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,028, while out-of-state students pay about $12,911. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,034 ten years after entry.
Front Range Community College placed #11 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $17,629. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $48,479 early in their careers. Set against $17,629 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College placed #12 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $14,725 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Pueblo Community College generally make around $42,135. Set against $14,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Davis Technical College earned the #13 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the suburb of Kaysville, Davis Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $7,208. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $43,011. Set against $7,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dixie State College Of Utah placed #14 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $47,230. That is a strong return on a $20,125 median debt.
Mesa State College landed the #15 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $19,488. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $54,004. Set against $19,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Concorde Career College Aurora earned the #16 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Aurora, Concorde Career College Aurora is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $25,530 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Concorde Career College Aurora earn a median of $57,831 early in their careers. Set against $25,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The University Of Montana earned the #17 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $52,370 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Pima Medical Institute Denver ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit university. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $30,160 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Denver generally make around $62,420. Set against $30,160 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
