2026 Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician](/majors/health-care-professions/ophthalmic-optometric-support-services/opticianry-ophthalmic-dispensing-optician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools
Essex County College earned the #1 spot for value among opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,415 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,523. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $37,740. That is a strong return on a $12,472 median debt.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $11,492. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $29,187 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Camden County College earned it the #3 place for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Camden County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blackwood. Students from in state pay about $4,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,416. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $12,999. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $39,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Narrow Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools by State
More Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Rankings
View All Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Rankings >
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
