2027 Best Value Optometric Technician/Assistant Associate’s Degree Schools
[Optometric Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/ophthalmic-optometric-support-services/optometric-technician-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong optometric technician/assistant education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for optometric technician/assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Optometric Technician/Assistant Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the optometric technician/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Optometric Technician/Assistant Schools
Durham Technical Community College earned the #1 spot for value among optometric technician/assistant schools in the United States. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Optometric Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $20,408 in student loans. Early-career optometric technician/assistant graduates make about $61,860. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value optometric technician/assistant schools. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Typical student debt for optometric technician/assistant graduates is $19,464. Early-career optometric technician/assistant graduates make about $44,101. Set against $19,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Raritan Valley Community College earned it the #3 place for optometric technician/assistant. Set in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete the optometric technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, optometric technician/assistant degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Set against $9,668 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National University College Bayamon is a great value for students pursuing a degree in optometric technician/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Bayamon, National University College Bayamon is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,723 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,886 for out-of-state students. Optometric Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,583 in student loans. Optometric Technician/assistant graduates of National University College Bayamon earn a median of $21,933 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,583 median debt.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value optometric technician/assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Mercedita, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,780. Optometric Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,869 in student loans. Soon after graduation, optometric technician/assistant degree recipients from Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce generally make around $17,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce admits about 34% of applicants.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo placed #6 among the best values for optometric technician/assistant. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Arecibo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,550. Typical student debt for optometric technician/assistant graduates is $15,561. Soon after graduation, optometric technician/assistant degree recipients from Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo generally make around $20,825. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo admits about 94% of applicants.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez landed the #7 spot for optometric technician/assistant value this year. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mayaguez. In-state tuition and fees average $6,550. Optometric Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,755 in student loans. Early-career optometric technician/assistant graduates make about $18,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #8 position for value in optometric technician/assistant this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the optometric technician/assistant program here. Early-career optometric technician/assistant graduates make about $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College earned the #9 position for value in optometric technician/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Clarkston, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,404, compared with $5,954 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,716 to complete the optometric technician/assistant program here. Optometric Technician/assistant 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.
Other Optometric Technician/Assistant Degree Levels
Explore the best-value optometric technician/assistant schools at other degree levels:
View All Optometric Technician/Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
