2027 Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Associate’s Degree Schools
[Laser & Optical Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/electronics-engineering-technology/laser-and-optical-technology-technician/) 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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for laser & optical technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the laser & optical technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Schools
Indian River State College earned the #1 spot for value among laser & optical technology/technician schools in the United States. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career laser & optical technology/technician graduates make about $60,039. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in laser & optical technology/technician will find it at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. 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 #3 makes Central Carolina Community College one of the best values for laser & optical technology/technician. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Laser & Optical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Early-career laser & optical technology/technician graduates make about $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value laser & optical technology/technician schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Typical student debt for laser & optical technology/technician graduates is $13,250. Early-career laser & optical technology/technician graduates make about $51,245. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian Hills Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laser & optical technology/technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. 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. That is a strong return on a $10,669 median debt.
Capital Community College landed the #6 spot for laser & optical technology/technician value this year. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. Early-career laser & optical technology/technician graduates make about $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
Valencia College landed the #7 spot for laser & optical technology/technician value this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,168 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. Early-career laser & optical technology/technician graduates make about $40,388. That is a strong return on a $9,168 median debt.
Front Range Community College landed the #8 spot for laser & optical technology/technician value this year. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Students borrow a median of $17,384 to complete the laser & optical technology/technician program here. 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.
Other Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Laser & Optical Technology/Technician rankings across degree levels:
View All Laser & Optical Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
