2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in North Carolina
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for surgical technology/technologist students.
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2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the surgical technology/technologist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
Leading the list is Durham Technical Community College, our #1 best value for surgical technology/technologist in North Carolina. 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. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $20,408. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $46,293. Set against $20,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in surgical technology/technologist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in surgical technology/technologist, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Students borrow a median of $16,422 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $61,455. That is a strong return on a $16,422 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Fayetteville Technical Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $14,486 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $50,872 early in their careers. Set against $14,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Rockingham Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,966, with out-of-state students paying around $6,574. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $5,500. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $55,849. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
South Piedmont Community College landed the #6 spot for surgical technology/technologist value 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, compared with $6,630 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $10,098 median debt.
Southwestern Community College Sylva landed the #7 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,112, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,408. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Sylva generally make around $36,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lenoir Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,578, while out-of-state students pay about $8,822. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $8,833. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Lenoir Community College earn a median of $47,685 early in their careers. Set against $8,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Robeson Community College earned the #9 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,604, while out-of-state students pay about $8,748. Students borrow a median of $9,949 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Robeson Community College generally make around $54,305. That is a strong return on a $9,949 median debt.
Cape Fear Community College earned the #10 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edgecombe Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the rural area of Tarboro, Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $8,784. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,690 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Edgecombe Community College earn a median of $60,003 early in their careers. Set against $16,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Carolina Community College landed the #12 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,512 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,656 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $7,125. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Coastal Carolina Community College generally make around $37,831. That is a strong return on a $7,125 median debt.
Sandhills Community College landed the #13 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,648. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $9,238. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $51,685 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,804. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $16,252. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $42,443. That is a strong return on a $16,252 median debt.
Catawba Valley Community College earned the #15 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,427, while out-of-state students pay about $7,803. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Catawba Valley Community College generally make around $46,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,882, while out-of-state students pay about $9,026. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn a median of $48,052 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Guilford Technical Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, while out-of-state students pay about $7,696. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $23,111 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $42,837. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences earned the #18 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Concord. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,550. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $24,414. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences earn a median of $60,869 early in their careers. Set against $24,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences admits about 23% of applicants.
Southeastern Institute Charlotte landed the #19 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Southeastern Institute Charlotte is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,080. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $13,194 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $25,628. Set against $13,194 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeastern Institute Charlotte admits about 94% of applicants.
More Surgical Technology/Technologist Rankings
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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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
