2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in the Southeast 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 172 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 Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
St Petersburg College tops our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools in the Southeast Region. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. 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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in surgical technology/technologist, landing the #2 spot this year. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,699 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $60,744. Set against $11,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Pines Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in surgical technology/technologist, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,268 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Coastal Pines Technical College earn a median of $45,656 early in their careers. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Wiregrass Georgia Technical College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,480, with out-of-state students paying around $6,048. 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. That is a strong return on a $14,685 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Southern Regional Technical College, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,086 in student loans. 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.
Durham Technical Community College landed the #6 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
Pensacola State College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $46,118 early in their careers. Set against $9,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gulf Coast State College placed #8 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,370, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $9,423. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $47,500. That is a strong return on a $9,423 median debt.
West Georgia Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,432. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $39,922 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #10 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,949 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $44,916 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College came in at #11 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,161 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $41,360. Set against $21,161 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $16,422. 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.
Hinds Community College came in at #13 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,752 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $56,165. Set against $18,752 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland Community College placed #14 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Shelby. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $45,763. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dothan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,980, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,942 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Dothan generally make around $42,801. That is a strong return on a $9,942 median debt.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $40,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $14,486. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $50,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florence Darlington Technical College landed the #18 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,636, compared with $6,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $7,230. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Florence Darlington Technical College earn a median of $34,948 early in their careers. Set against $7,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gadsden State Community College earned the #19 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gadsden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Gadsden State Community College earn a median of $38,015 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Piedmont Community College earned the #20 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the rural area of Polkton, South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,630. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $10,098 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of South Piedmont Community College earn a median of $39,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #21 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Students borrow a median of $15,843 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Students borrow a median of $6,423 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $51,050. That is a strong return on a $6,423 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $54,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rockingham Community College landed the #24 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,966, while out-of-state students pay about $6,574. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Rockingham Community College earn a median of $55,849 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hazard Community And Technical College earned the #25 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,367 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $47,216. That is a strong return on a $9,367 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in surgical technology/technologist:
Narrow Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools by State
More Surgical Technology/Technologist Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 172 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 94 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.
