2026 Best Value Chemical Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region
[Chemical Technology/Technician](/majors/science-technologies-technicians/physical-science-technicians/chemical-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value chemical technology/technician schools.
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2026 Best Value Chemical Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemical technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemical Technology/Technician Schools
College Of The Mainland tops our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools in the Southwest Region. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $10,500. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $49,694. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Brazosport College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. Students from in state pay about $2,388 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,711 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $32,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $49,932 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alvin Community College earned it the #4 place for chemical technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,801 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $53,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in chemical technology/technician will find it at Del Mar College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $7,000. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $56,948 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Victoria College placed #6 among the best values for chemical technology/technician. Located in the city of Victoria, Victoria College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,976, while out-of-state students pay about $5,328. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $10,910. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Victoria College earn a median of $50,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,910 median debt.
Lamar State College Port Arthur landed the #7 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,770, with out-of-state students paying around $8,070. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $33,385. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Lamar State College Port Arthur earn a median of $78,580 early in their careers. Set against $33,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wharton County Junior College placed #8 among the best values for chemical technology/technician. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,192 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $16,625. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $45,277. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,208 in student loans. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $68,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College came in at #10 for value in chemical technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,598 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $94,986. That is a strong return on a $9,598 median debt.
Houston Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $21,740. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $60,612 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,740 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College placed #12 among the best values for chemical technology/technician. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $59,496 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Institute Of Technology landed the #13 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Beaumont. Students from in state pay about $2,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,924. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $42,539. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
Lone Star College System earned the #14 position for value in chemical technology/technician this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $10,425. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $53,976 early in their careers. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State Technical College came in at #15 for value in chemical technology/technician this year. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Students from in state pay about $7,212 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,959 in student loans. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $40,747. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
