2026 Best Value Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/Technician Schools in the Far Western Region
[Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/environmental-control-technology/water-quality-and-wastewater-treatment-management-and-recycling-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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/Technician Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/Technician Schools
College Of The Canyons tops our 2026 list of the best value water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician schools in the Far Western Region. 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 water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician program here. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician 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.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Sequoias one of the best values for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Typical student debt for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician will find it at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Imperial Valley College earned it the #4 place for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. In-state tuition and fees average $1,126, compared with $8,830 for out-of-state students. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Soon after graduation, water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $42,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santiago Canyon College earned it the #5 place for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gavilan College came in at #6 for value in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,508, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Early-career water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician graduates make about $28,496. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician schools. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Citrus College placed #8 among the best values for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,204, while out-of-state students pay about $10,636. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
Sacramento City College placed #9 among the best values for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Set in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician graduates is $13,180. Soon after graduation, water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $46,522. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #10 spot for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician value this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician program here. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Palomar College placed #11 among the best values for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, while out-of-state students pay about $10,650. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
Woodland Community College placed #12 among the best values for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Woodland, Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,124, with out-of-state students paying around $7,656. Median earnings reach $40,042 ten years out.
Cuyamaca College earned the #13 position for value in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Cuyamaca College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,346, while out-of-state students pay about $11,314. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,435 ten years after entry.
Mt San Jacinto Community College District landed the #14 spot for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,728. Students borrow a median of $8,770 to complete the water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician program here. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates of Mt San Jacinto Community College District earn a median of $37,488 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Bernardino Valley College landed the #15 spot for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,196, while out-of-state students pay about $4,528. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician program here. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates of San Bernardino Valley College earn a median of $69,642 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clackamas Community College placed #16 among the best values for water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,265. Students borrow a median of $13,915 to complete the water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician degree recipients from Clackamas Community College generally make around $31,280. Set against $13,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College earned the #17 position for value in water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Management & Recycling Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Early-career water quality & wastewater treatment management & recycling technology/technician graduates make about $43,340. That is a strong return on a $14,833 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
