by our College Data Analytics Team
[Laboratory Technician](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/laboratory-technician/) 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 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for laboratory technician students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the laboratory technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in laboratory technician, no school beat Elgin Community College this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kankakee Community College earned it the #2 place for laboratory technician. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in laboratory technician will find it at Oakton Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $7,750. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in laboratory technician will find it at Southwestern Illinois College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $10,388. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
