2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Virginia
[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 10 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 Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #1 spot for value among surgical technology/technologist schools in Virginia. 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, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,843 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $36,965. That is a strong return on a $15,843 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lord Fairfax Community College earned it the #2 place for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,075 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Lord Fairfax Community College earn a median of $36,165 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 Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #3. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $12,000. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $54,480. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Germanna Community College earned it the #4 place for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,257, compared with $11,648 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Germanna Community College generally make around $41,880. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Piedmont Virginia Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $11,735 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Piedmont Virginia Community College earn a median of $46,170 early in their careers. Set against $11,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ecpi University placed #6 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,484. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $27,242. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $60,365. That is a strong return on a $27,242 median debt. Ecpi University admits about 74% of applicants.
Richmond School Of Health And Technology placed #7 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the suburb of CHESTER, Richmond School Of Health And Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $22,972 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Richmond School Of Health And Technology earn a median of $42,781 early in their careers. Set against $22,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside College Of Health Careers landed the #8 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Riverside College Of Health Careers is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $21,560. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Riverside College Of Health Careers generally make around $47,366. Set against $21,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Riverside College Of Health Careers admits about 13% of applicants.
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
