2027 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Tennessee

[Surgical Technology/Technologist](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/surgical-technology-technologist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong surgical technology/technologist education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 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 Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in surgical technology/technologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools
Our analysis ranked Roane State Community College the best value for a degree in surgical technology/technologist in Tennessee. Located in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,998 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,630. Students borrow a median of $8,855 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $41,121. That is a strong return on a $8,855 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Chattanooga State Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Students borrow a median of $16,348 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $52,014. Set against $16,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Walters State Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $10,210 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Walters State Community College earn a median of $43,173 early in their careers. Set against $10,210 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nashville State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in surgical technology/technologist, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,714. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $15,266 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $40,098. That is a strong return on a $15,266 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Northeast State Community College, which ranked #5. Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Blountville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,782, while out-of-state students pay about $17,766. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $6,404. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Northeast State Community College earn a median of $39,673 early in their careers. Set against $6,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro landed the #6 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a small public university. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $10,723. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro earn a median of $41,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,723 median debt.
Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences earned the #7 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,796. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $31,176 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Baptist Memorial College Of Health Sciences earn a median of $57,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,176 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson came in at #8 for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Jackson. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson generally make around $33,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South College placed #9 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. South College is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,535. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of South College earn a median of $66,010 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald landed the #10 spot for surgical technology/technologist value this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hohenwald. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald earn a median of $35,116 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville placed #11 among the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville is a mid-sized public university. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $10,639 in student loans. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville generally make around $37,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis Institute Cookeville earned the #12 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Fortis Institute Cookeville is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Cookeville. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $19,500. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Fortis Institute Cookeville earn a median of $40,994 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga earned the #13 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $20,193 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $39,067. Set against $20,193 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concorde Career College Memphis earned the #14 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Concorde Career College Memphis is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $25,427 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $46,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Fortis Institute Nashville earned the #15 position for value in surgical technology/technologist this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Fortis Institute Nashville is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,627. Students borrow a median of $30,918 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $46,193. Set against $30,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.