2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Texas
[Surgical Technology/Technologist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/surgical-technology-technologist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for surgical technology/technologist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools in Texas. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $15,926 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $73,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $58,814. Set against $11,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Del Mar College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $52,431. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trinity Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for surgical technology/technologist. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Students borrow a median of $12,323 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Trinity Valley Community College earn a median of $50,185 early in their careers. Set against $12,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $12,812. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $57,721. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College earned the #6 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $11,950. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $49,898 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College came in at #7 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $15,750. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $53,099. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Austin Community College District ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,759 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $63,075. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College earned the #9 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Students borrow a median of $12,858 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $50,839. Set against $12,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,770, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $33,385 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Lamar State College Port Arthur generally make around $78,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College came in at #11 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $15,612. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $65,873. That is a strong return on a $15,612 median debt.
Vernon College earned the #12 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,720, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,260 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $45,097. Set against $16,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College landed the #13 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $44,322 early in their careers. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paris Junior College placed #14 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $8,846. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $58,439. That is a strong return on a $8,846 median debt.
North Central Texas College earned the #15 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $19,425. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from North Central Texas College generally make around $59,650. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #16 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,157. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $58,037 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,157 median debt.
Temple College landed the #17 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Temple College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Temple. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, while out-of-state students pay about $7,524. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $20,377 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Temple College earn a median of $62,253 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College earned the #18 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $13,788. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $30,949. That is a strong return on a $13,788 median debt.
Galveston College landed the #19 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Galveston, Galveston College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,726 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,176 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Galveston College earn a median of $57,990 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Howard College placed #20 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the town of Big Spring, Howard College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,766, compared with $6,716 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $14,866 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Howard College earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Angelina College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Angelina College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Lufkin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,430, while out-of-state students pay about $6,490. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $7,828 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $54,570. Set against $7,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District came in at #22 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,519 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $52,904 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,519 median debt.
Lone Star College System earned the #23 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $11,080. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $64,114 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,080 median debt.
Odessa College placed #24 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $55,584. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Cisco College earned the #25 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the rural area of Cisco, Cisco College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,710, with out-of-state students paying around $7,140. Students borrow a median of $10,875 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Cisco College earn a median of $17,820 early in their careers. Set against $10,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 38 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s surgical technology/technologist value ranking:
More Surgical Technology/Technologist Rankings
View All Surgical Technology/Technologist Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
