2026 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.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools.
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2026 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
Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College, our #1 best value for surgical technology/technologist in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $12,924. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earn a median of $46,222 early in their careers. Set against $12,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,285 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $62,280. Set against $14,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $14,897. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $52,750. Set against $14,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $13,209 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $35,362. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #6 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $14,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $58,004. That is a strong return on a $14,349 median debt.
Richland Community College came in at #7 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,680, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Students borrow a median of $9,562 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Richland Community College generally make around $46,542. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College earned the #8 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $13,842. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $64,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County earned the #9 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,103 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rock Valley College came in at #10 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,334, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $9,236. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $41,080. That is a strong return on a $9,236 median debt.
Parkland College earned the #11 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,284, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $55,060 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Central College landed the #12 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, compared with $12,150 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $56,637. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midwestern Career College landed the #13 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Midwestern Career College is a small private for-profit university. 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. That is a strong return on a $20,084 median debt.
Rasmussen College Illinois came in at #14 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen College Illinois is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,581. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $51,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the city of Rockford, Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,699. Students borrow a median of $18,007 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earn a median of $42,769 early in their careers. Set against $18,007 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Roosevelt University earned the #16 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $23,879. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Stellar Career College landed the #17 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Stellar Career College is a small private for-profit institution. Median earnings reach $30,337 ten years out.
More Surgical Technology/Technologist Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
