2027 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools.
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2027 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
For return on investment in surgical technology/technologist, no school beat Pikes Peak Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $16,066. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $41,037. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Laramie County Community College, which ranked #2. Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Cheyenne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,613, while out-of-state students pay about $10,913. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $16,120. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Laramie County Community College earn a median of $64,082 early in their careers. Set against $16,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at College Of Southern Idaho, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, compared with $6,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $11,940. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $54,939. That is a strong return on a $11,940 median debt.
College Of Western Idaho is a great value for students pursuing a degree in surgical technology/technologist, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,446 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $12,740. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $53,281.
Flathead Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the town of Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,912, while out-of-state students pay about $11,659. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $16,094 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Flathead Valley Community College earn a median of $45,868 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,094 median debt.
Community College Of Denver earned the #6 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $28,443 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $64,980 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,443 median debt.
Salt Lake Community College landed the #7 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $54,072. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
Eastern Idaho Technical College landed the #8 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Idaho Falls, Eastern Idaho Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,390 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,548. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Eastern Idaho Technical College earn a median of $60,107 early in their careers. Set against $10,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Idaho College earned the #9 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,396, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $14,688. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $49,489. Set against $14,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aims Community College placed #10 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Students from in state pay about $2,258 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $11,375. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $48,894. Set against $11,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College placed #11 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,725 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $42,135. That is a strong return on a $14,725 median debt.
Great Falls College Montana State University landed the #12 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the city of Great Falls, Great Falls College Montana State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,028, while out-of-state students pay about $12,911. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,034 ten years after entry.
Front Range Community College landed the #13 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $17,629. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $48,479. That is a strong return on a $17,629 median debt.
Davis Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Set in the suburb of Kaysville, Davis Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $7,208. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $43,011. That is a strong return on a $7,208 median debt.
Mesa State College placed #15 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $19,488. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $54,004. Set against $19,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Dixie State College Of Utah earned the #16 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $47,230. That is a strong return on a $20,125 median debt.
Concorde Career College - Denver ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Concorde Career College - Denver is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Aurora. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Concorde Career College - Denver generally make around $57,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana came in at #18 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $52,370. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Pima Medical Institute Denver ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value surgical technology/technologist schools. Located in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit university. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $30,160 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $62,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.