2027 Best Value Laboratory Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Laboratory Technician](/majors/health-care-professions/clinical-medical-lab-science/laboratory-technician/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for laboratory technician students.
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2027 Best Value Laboratory Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in laboratory technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Laboratory Technician Schools
Coffeyville Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value laboratory technician schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,680. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $12,838 in student loans. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $45,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in laboratory technician will find it at Western Nebraska Community College, which ranked #2. Western Nebraska Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Scottsbluff. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $14,507. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Western Nebraska Community College generally make around $62,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laboratory technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Laboratory Technician graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $43,218 early in their careers. Set against $10,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned it the #4 place for laboratory technician. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $5,408. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $9,175. Laboratory Technician graduates of Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earn a median of $53,375 early in their careers. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Louis Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in laboratory technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $11,424. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $38,999. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value laboratory technician schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $15,866 in student loans. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $39,980. That is a strong return on a $15,866 median debt.
Barton County Community College came in at #7 for value in laboratory technician this year. Set in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,680, compared with $4,960 for out-of-state students. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $14,792 in student loans. Laboratory Technician graduates of Barton County Community College earn a median of $44,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,792 median debt.
Manhattan Area Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value laboratory technician schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Manhattan Area Technical College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,844 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $15,499. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $43,205. Set against $15,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bismarck State College placed #9 among the best values for laboratory technician. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, with out-of-state students paying around $7,331. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $13,340 in student loans. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Bismarck State College generally make around $61,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian Hills Community College earned the #10 position for value in laboratory technician this year. Set in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Students borrow a median of $15,390 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Indian Hills Community College generally make around $49,626. Set against $15,390 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College placed #11 among the best values for laboratory technician. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $44,387. Set against $17,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #12 among the best values for laboratory technician. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Laboratory Technician graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career laboratory technician graduates make about $47,585. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot for laboratory technician value this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,491. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $13,946. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College generally make around $43,009. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #14 for value in laboratory technician this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Students borrow a median of $16,875 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $44,006. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Hennepin Community College landed the #15 spot for laboratory technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,061. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $21,241. Laboratory Technician graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $52,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,241 median debt.
Western Dakota Technical Institute landed the #16 spot for laboratory technician value this year. Located in the city of Rapid City, Western Dakota Technical Institute is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. Students borrow a median of $17,997 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Western Dakota Technical Institute generally make around $46,378. Set against $17,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mitchell Technical Institute ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value laboratory technician schools. Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Mitchell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,524. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Laboratory Technician graduates of Mitchell Technical Institute earn a median of $47,686 early in their careers. Set against $12,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Superior College earned the #18 position for value in laboratory technician this year. Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785. Students borrow a median of $17,156 to complete the laboratory technician program here. Laboratory Technician graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $42,543 early in their careers. Set against $17,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #19 for value in laboratory technician this year. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,718. Typical student debt for laboratory technician graduates is $13,674. Soon after graduation, laboratory technician degree recipients from Lake Area Technical Institute generally make around $47,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 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.
