2027 Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Schools
[Laser & Optical Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/electronics-engineering-technology/laser-and-optical-technology-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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for laser & optical technology/technician students.
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Finding the Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician School for You
The laser & optical technology/technician program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2027 Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in laser & optical technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is Indian River State College, our #1 best value for laser & optical technology/technician in the United States. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, laser & optical technology/technician degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $60,039. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hillsborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laser & optical technology/technician, landing the #2 spot this year. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,142 in student loans. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $44,101 early in their careers. Set against $16,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value laser & optical technology/technician schools. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Students borrow a median of $17,730 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Pensacola State College one of the best values for laser & optical technology/technician. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for laser & optical technology/technician graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, laser & optical technology/technician degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laser & optical technology/technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $38,198 early in their careers. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe Community College earned the #6 position for value in laser & optical technology/technician this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, laser & optical technology/technician degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $51,245. Set against $13,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian Hills Community College earned the #7 position for value in laser & optical technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,669 in student loans. Early-career laser & optical technology/technician graduates make about $68,590. Set against $10,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Valencia College placed #8 among the best values for laser & optical technology/technician. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. Typical student debt for laser & optical technology/technician graduates is $10,734. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $52,463 early in their careers. Set against $10,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Capital Community College landed the #9 spot for laser & optical technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, laser & optical technology/technician degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Idaho State University landed the #10 spot for laser & optical technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,640 median debt.
Front Range Community College landed the #11 spot for laser & optical technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical student debt for laser & optical technology/technician graduates is $17,384. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,384 median debt.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #12 for value in laser & optical technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Set against $15,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miat College Of Technology ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value laser & optical technology/technician schools. Miat College Of Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,165. Students borrow a median of $15,961 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, laser & optical technology/technician degree recipients from Miat College Of Technology generally make around $40,836. Set against $15,961 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
