2026 Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Science Technologies Technicians associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 280 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Science Technologies Technicians Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Cowley County Community College, our #1 best-value Science Technologies Technicians school in the United States. Set in Arkansas City, KS, Cowley County Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,600 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,625 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,723. Set against $10,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Cowley County Community College
A rank of #2 makes Lee College one of the best values in the United States. Lee College is a public school based in Baytown, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,598 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,178 ten years after entry. Set against $9,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Lee College profile
Oakland Community College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Science Technologies Technicians ranking in the United States. Located in Auburn Hills, MI, Oakland Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,024 to complete their Science Technologies Technicians program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,395 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Oakland Community College
You'll get strong value at College Of The Mainland, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Texas City, TX, College Of The Mainland is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,639. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full College Of The Mainland report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alvin Community College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Alvin, TX, Alvin Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Alvin Community College Science Technologies Technicians students take on a median of $7,801 in debt. Median earnings reach $45,762 ten years out. Set against $7,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Alvin Community College
Del Mar College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Corpus Christi, TX, Del Mar College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Del Mar College alumni report median earnings of $38,656 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt. More on Del Mar College
Wharton County Junior College placed #7 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. Located in Wharton, TX, Wharton County Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,192, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. Wharton County Junior College Science Technologies Technicians students take on a median of $16,625 in debt. Wharton County Junior College alumni report median earnings of $44,960 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Wharton County Junior College report
San Jacinto Community College placed #8 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. This public school is set in Pasadena, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical Science Technologies Technicians student debt is $10,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,062. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full San Jacinto Community College report
Kilgore College placed #9 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. Set in Kilgore, TX, Kilgore College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, while out-of-state students pay about $5,256. Typical Science Technologies Technicians student debt is $17,208. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,975 ten years after entry. Set against $17,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Kilgore College profile
Delta College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Based in University Center, MI, Delta College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,075 in student loans. Median earnings reach $37,781 ten years out. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Delta College profile
Houston Community College placed #11 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. Houston Community College is a public school based in Houston, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. The median Science Technologies Technicians program debt is $21,740. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,254 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Houston Community College report
Middlesex Community College Bedford came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Bedford, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Students borrow a median of $11,245 to complete their Science Technologies Technicians program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,651 ten years after entry. Set against $11,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Middlesex Community College Bedford profile
Corning Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. Based in Corning, NY, Corning Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,534 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,326. Typical Science Technologies Technicians student debt is $15,638. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,817. Set against $15,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Corning Community College report
Lamar State College Orange offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Based in Orange, TX, Lamar State College Orange is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Typical Science Technologies Technicians student debt is $12,000. Median earnings reach $36,587 ten years out. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Lamar State College Orange
Texas State Technical College placed #15 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. Set in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. Graduates carry a median of $11,959 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Texas State Technical College report
Lamar Institute Of Technology came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a public school based in Beaumont, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,844, while out-of-state students pay about $12,924. Graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Median earnings reach $38,991 ten years out. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Lamar Institute Of Technology
Truckee Meadows Community College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Reno, NV. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,352, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Truckee Meadows Community College Science Technologies Technicians students take on a median of $10,062 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,573 ten years after entry. Set against $10,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Truckee Meadows Community College
Community College Of Vermont came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Located in Montpelier, VT, Community College Of Vermont is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,920, with out-of-state students paying around $13,640. The median Science Technologies Technicians program debt is $16,300. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Community College Of Vermont report
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. This public school is set in South Charleston, WV. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,428. Students borrow a median of $11,958 to complete their Science Technologies Technicians program here. Bridgevalley Community And Technical College alumni report median earnings of $36,432 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Bridgevalley Community And Technical College
Ashland Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. This public school is set in Ashland, KY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,504 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,867 median debt. Read the full report on Ashland Community And Technical College
Stone Child College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Stone Child College report
Des Moines Area Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Des Moines Area Community College
Wichita Area Technical College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Wichita Area Technical College report
Arkansas Tech University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. Read the full report on Arkansas Tech University
Century College
Century College landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Century College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Science Technologies Technicians Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Central Virginia Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. More on Central Virginia Community College
Chattanooga State Community College placed #27 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. See the full Chattanooga State Community College profile
Bucks County Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. See the full Bucks County Community College profile
Cecil College
Cecil College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Cecil College
Henry Ford Community College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Henry Ford Community College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks profile
Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College profile
Ferris State University landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Ferris State University
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Millersville University Of Pennsylvania
Northwestern University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Northwestern University profile
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #36 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. Read more about Cuny College Of Staten Island
North Georgia Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on North Georgia Technical College
Lamar Community College placed #38 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. See the full Lamar Community College profile
Savannah Technical College placed #39 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. See the full Savannah Technical College profile
Drexel University placed #40 among the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools in the United States. Read more about Drexel University
Montgomery College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Montgomery College
Reading Area Community College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. More on Reading Area Community College
Victoria College
Victoria College offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read more about Victoria College
Athens Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. More on Athens Technical College
Community College Of Rhode Island landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Community College Of Rhode Island report
Morgan Community College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Morgan Community College
Sowela Technical Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Sowela Technical Community College
South Arkansas Community College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Get the full South Arkansas Community College report
West Virginia University At Parkersburg ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Science Technologies Technicians schools. Read the full report on West Virginia University At Parkersburg
Niagara County Community College came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. More on Niagara County Community College
Related Science Technologies Technicians Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Science Technologies Technicians Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 280 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.