2027 Best Value Laboratory Technician Schools in Virginia

[Laboratory Technician](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/laboratory-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value laboratory technician schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Laboratory Technician Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in laboratory technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Laboratory Technician Schools
Virginia Western Community College earned the #1 spot for value among laboratory technician schools in Virginia. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $5,919 in student loans. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $31,772. Set against $5,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wytheville Community College earned it the #2 place for laboratory technician. Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wytheville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $40,973. That is a strong return on a $9,542 median debt.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laboratory technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $16,131. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $36,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laboratory technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Danville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,992, with out-of-state students paying around $11,430. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $9,494 in student loans. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $44,922. Set against $9,494 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in laboratory technician will find it at Mountain Empire Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,036 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Mountain Empire Community College generally make around $36,988. Set against $9,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value laboratory technician schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $14,413. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $40,126. That is a strong return on a $14,413 median debt.
Tidewater Community College came in at #7 for value in laboratory technician this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $11,856. Laboratory Technician graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $37,354 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,856 median debt.
More Laboratory Technician Rankings
View All Laboratory Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.