2027 Best Value Surgical Technology/Technologist Schools in Iowa
[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 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 5 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 Iowa
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 Western Iowa Tech Community College, our #1 best value for surgical technology/technologist in Iowa. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,935 to complete the surgical technology/technologist program here. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $43,254 early in their careers. Set against $7,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kirkwood Community College earned it the #2 place for surgical technology/technologist. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $21,945 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $52,364. Set against $21,945 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes North Iowa Area Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. Surgical Technology/technologist graduates carry a median of $12,043 in student loans. Early-career surgical technology/technologist graduates make about $44,466. Set against $12,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Des Moines Area Community College one of the best values for surgical technology/technologist. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $20,600. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $51,185. Set against $20,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in surgical technology/technologist will find it at Eastern Iowa Community College District, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for surgical technology/technologist graduates is $17,943. Soon after graduation, surgical technology/technologist degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $42,927. That is a strong return on a $17,943 median debt.
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 · 5 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.
