2026 Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Associate’s Degree Schools

[Communications Technologies & Support](/majors/communications-tech-support/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 655 schools to find the best return on investment for communications technologies & support students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications technologies & support, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Schools
For return on investment in communications technologies & support, no school beat College Of San Mateo this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in communications technologies & support will find it at College Of The Canyons, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communications technologies & support will find it at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #3. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $9,384. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $44,391. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communications technologies & support will find it at San Diego Mesa College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #5 place for communications technologies & support. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $30,294. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College placed #6 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College landed the #7 spot for communications technologies & support value this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College placed #8 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Monica College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Trident Technical College placed #10 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College landed the #11 spot for communications technologies & support value this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Pellissippi State Community College placed #12 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $25,754. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College placed #13 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $30,575 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #14 for value in communications technologies & support this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $17,616. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Norco College earned the #15 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $8,203 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverside City College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $8,767 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College earned the #17 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Sacramento City College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $46,522 early in their careers. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chabot College earned the #19 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $8,686. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lansing Community College placed #20 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Set against $16,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,404 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College landed the #22 spot for communications technologies & support value this year. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $8,858 in student loans. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $29,299. That is a strong return on a $8,858 median debt.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $44,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #24 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $10,250. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $22,661. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #25 for value in communications technologies & support this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s communications technologies & support value ranking:
Other Communications Technologies & Support Degree Levels
Explore the best-value communications technologies & support schools at other degree levels:
View All Communications Technologies & Support 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 · 655 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 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.