2027 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Illinois
[Surgical Technology/Technologist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/surgical-technology-technologist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for surgical technology/technologist students.
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2027 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the surgical technology/technologist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
Triton College tops our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools in Illinois. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $14,285. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $62,280. That is a strong return on a $14,285 median debt.
Richland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in surgical technology/technologist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,680 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $46,542 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,562 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lincoln Land Community College earned it the #3 place for surgical technology/technologist. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $14,897 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $52,750. Set against $14,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $13,209. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $35,362. That is a strong return on a $13,209 median debt.
Elgin Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rock Valley College placed #6 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,334, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $9,236. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $41,080. That is a strong return on a $9,236 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College placed #7 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $12,924. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College generally make around $46,222. That is a strong return on a $12,924 median debt.
College Of Dupage placed #8 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $14,349 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $58,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,349 median debt.
College Of Lake County landed the #9 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Parkland College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $55,060. Set against $13,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College came in at #11 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $13,842 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $64,778. That is a strong return on a $13,842 median debt.
Illinois Central College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $9,750. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $56,637 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,750 median debt.
Rasmussen College Illinois landed the #13 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen College Illinois is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,581. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Rasmussen College Illinois earn a median of $51,036 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Roosevelt University landed the #14 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $50,101. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Midwestern Career College placed #15 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Midwestern Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $20,084 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Midwestern Career College earn a median of $43,528 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College came in at #16 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,699 in tuition and fees. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $30,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College generally make around $42,769. That is a strong return on a $30,902 median debt.
Stellar Career College earned the #17 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Stellar Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Median earnings reach $30,337 ten years out.
More Surgical Technology/Technologist Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
