2027 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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools.
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2027 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 Hillsborough Community College the best value for a degree in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician in the United States. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $19,464. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $48,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Durham Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $61,860. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician will find it at Essex County College, which ranked #3. Essex County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,415, with out-of-state students paying around $9,523. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $12,472 in student loans. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from Essex County College generally make around $37,740. That is a strong return on a $12,472 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Roane State Community College one of the best values for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Located in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,998, while out-of-state students pay about $18,630. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $9,408 in student loans. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $33,853. Set against $9,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny New York City College Of Technology one of the best values for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $11,492 in student loans. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $29,187 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,492 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #6 position for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $36,965. That is a strong return on a $16,131 median debt.
Miami Dade College came in at #7 for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $11,967. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $57,932 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #8 for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,358, with out-of-state students paying around $13,024. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. 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.
Raritan Valley Community College landed the #9 spot for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician value this year. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,664, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. That is a strong return on a $9,668 median debt.
Capital Community College came in at #10 for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $12,059. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College landed the #11 spot for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician value this year. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Clarkston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,404, while out-of-state students pay about $5,954. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $15,716. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $42,073. Set against $15,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Broward College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,830, with out-of-state students paying around $8,952. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $13,110 in student loans. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $51,328. That is a strong return on a $13,110 median debt.
Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology earned the #13 position for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. Set in the city of Boston, Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,906. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $19,899. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Benjamin Franklin Institute Of Technology earn a median of $44,504 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Degree Levels
Explore the best-value opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools at other degree levels:
View All Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Rankings >
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
