2027 Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools in the Southeast Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician students.
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2027 Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools
For return on investment in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician, no school beat Durham Technical Community College this year. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $20,408. Early-career opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates make about $61,860. Set against $20,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hillsborough Community College earned it the #2 place for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $48,106 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Roane State Community College one of the best values for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Set in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,998 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,630. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $9,408. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned it the #4 place for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Typical student debt for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician graduates is $16,131. 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.
Students looking for strong value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician will find it at Miami Dade College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Soon after graduation, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $57,932. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College came in at #6 for value in opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician this year. Set in the suburb of Clarkston, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,404, compared with $5,954 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,716 to complete the opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician program here. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Georgia Piedmont Technical College earn a median of $42,073 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Broward College placed #7 among the best values for opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Students from in state pay about $2,830 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,952 for out-of-state students. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates carry a median of $13,110 in student loans. Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates of Broward College earn a median of $51,328 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
