2026 Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools in the Southwest Region

[Pharmacy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/pharmacy-technician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pharmacy technician/assistant education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 69 schools to find the best return on investment for pharmacy technician/assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pharmacy technician/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools
South Texas College earned the #1 spot for value among pharmacy technician/assistant schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $10,378 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $32,084 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Gateway Community College Central City one of the best values for pharmacy technician/assistant. Gateway Community College Central City is a small public school located in the city of Phoenix. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $15,037. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Gateway Community College Central City generally make around $31,636. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in pharmacy technician/assistant will find it at Pima Community College, which ranked #3. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $10,655. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #5 place for pharmacy technician/assistant. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $26,157. That is a strong return on a $10,928 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $7,000. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $42,057 early in their careers. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Juan College came in at #8 for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $17,090 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $37,239. That is a strong return on a $17,090 median debt.
Alvin Community College earned the #9 position for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus came in at #10 for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Located in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $11,110. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $21,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #11 for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,832 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $45,299. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Valley Community College earned the #12 position for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $2,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $12,323. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Trinity Valley Community College earn a median of $32,623 early in their careers. Set against $12,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District landed the #13 spot for pharmacy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $18,457 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $49,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,457 median debt.
Tulsa Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Tulsa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tulsa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete the pharmacy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Tulsa Community College generally make around $41,718. Set against $11,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Arizona College earned the #15 position for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $11,635. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
Houston Community College placed #16 among the best values for pharmacy technician/assistant. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $20,299 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $38,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #17 spot for pharmacy technician/assistant value this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,938 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $40,933. That is a strong return on a $14,938 median debt.
Vernon College earned the #18 position for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Located in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,720, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $12,513. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $45,097. That is a strong return on a $12,513 median debt.
Meridian Technology Center ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Meridian Technology Center is a small public school located in the town of Stillwater. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $61,765.
Angelina College earned the #20 position for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Located in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,430, compared with $6,490 for out-of-state students. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,828 in student loans. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Angelina College earn a median of $50,767 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System landed the #21 spot for pharmacy technician/assistant value this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,553 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pharmacy technician/assistant degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $35,884. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District came in at #22 for value in pharmacy technician/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $42,177. That is a strong return on a $9,716 median debt.
Northland Pioneer College placed #23 among the best values for pharmacy technician/assistant. Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,232, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $8,680. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Northland Pioneer College earn a median of $44,117 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Navarro College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy technician/assistant schools. Located in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,008, compared with $6,578 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates is $24,448. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates of Navarro College earn a median of $38,210 early in their careers. Set against $24,448 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tulsa Technology Center placed #25 among the best values for pharmacy technician/assistant. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Pharmacy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,826 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy technician/assistant graduates make about $29,723. That is a strong return on a $14,826 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s pharmacy technician/assistant value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 69 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.