2026 Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Associate’s Degree Schools
[Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician](/majors/health-care-professions/ophthalmic-optometric-support-services/opticianry-ophthalmic-dispensing-optician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician students.
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2026 Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools
Our analysis ranked Durham Technical Community College the best value for a degree in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician in the United States. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $61,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Essex County College one of the best values for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Essex County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $5,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $12,472. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $37,740. That is a strong return on a $12,472 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician will find it at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $36,965. That is a strong return on a $16,131 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny New York City College Of Technology one of the best values for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, while out-of-state students pay about $15,282. Students borrow a median of $11,492 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $29,187. That is a strong return on a $11,492 median debt. Cuny New York City College Of Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $48,106. Set against $19,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Camden County College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools. Set in the suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, compared with $4,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,999 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Camden County College earn a median of $39,549 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,999 median debt.
College Of Southern Nevada earned the #7 position for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,024 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,980 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $35,850. Set against $9,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Roane State Community College came in at #8 for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. Set in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,998, compared with $18,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,408 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $33,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capital Community College landed the #9 spot for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician value this year. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the best values for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Located in the city of Boston, Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,906 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $19,899. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $44,504. That is a strong return on a $19,899 median debt.
Broward College landed the #11 spot for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician value this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,830 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,952. Students borrow a median of $13,110 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Broward College earn a median of $51,328 early in their careers. Set against $13,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician rankings across degree levels:
View All Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
