2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Tennessee
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 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 Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
Our analysis ranked Walters State Community College the best value for a degree in surgical technology/technologist in Tennessee. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,752, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,210. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $43,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Chattanooga State Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,348 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 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 Roane State Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,998, with out-of-state students paying around $18,630. Students borrow a median of $8,855 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $41,121. Set against $8,855 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Northeast State Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,782, with out-of-state students paying around $17,766. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $6,404. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Northeast State Community College earn a median of $39,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,404 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Nashville State Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,730, while out-of-state students pay about $17,714. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $15,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Nashville State Community College generally make around $40,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro placed #6 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a small public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $10,723 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro earn a median of $41,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,723 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville earned the #7 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Knoxville. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $10,639 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $37,667. Set against $10,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson landed the #8 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson is a mid-sized public university. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson generally make around $33,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences earned the #9 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,796. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $31,176. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $57,633. Set against $31,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
South College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,535 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $66,010. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald came in at #11 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the rural area of Hohenwald, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald is a mid-sized public institution. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $35,116. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Concorde Career College Memphis earned the #12 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Concorde Career College Memphis is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $25,427. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Concorde Career College Memphis generally make around $46,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Fortis Institute Cookeville placed #13 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the town of Cookeville, Fortis Institute Cookeville is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $40,994. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga landed the #14 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Chattanooga. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $20,193. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga generally make around $39,067. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis Institute Nashville earned the #15 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Fortis Institute Nashville is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,627. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $30,918. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Fortis Institute Nashville generally make around $46,193. That is a strong return on a $30,918 median debt.
More Surgical Technology/Technologist Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
