[Nuclear & Radiological Technicians](/majors/science-technologies-technicians/nuclear-and-radiological-technicians/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for nuclear & radiological technicians students.
Finding the Best Value Nuclear & Radiological Technicians School for You
The right nuclear & radiological technicians school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Nuclear & Radiological Technicians Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Nuclear & Radiological Technicians Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Wharton County Junior College, our #1 best value for nuclear & radiological technicians in the United States. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,192, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. Nuclear & Radiological Technicians graduates carry a median of $10,916 in student loans. Nuclear & Radiological Technicians graduates of Wharton County Junior College earn a median of $40,554 early in their careers. Set against $10,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern New Mexico College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nuclear & radiological technicians, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Espanola, Northern New Mexico College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,064, with out-of-state students paying around $14,328. Median earnings reach $38,112 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in nuclear & radiological technicians will find it at Aiken Technical College, which ranked #3. Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Graniteville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,174, with out-of-state students paying around $7,924. Students borrow a median of $17,884 to complete the nuclear & radiological technicians program here. Soon after graduation, nuclear & radiological technicians degree recipients from Aiken Technical College generally make around $51,894. Set against $17,884 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cowley County Community College earned it the #4 place for nuclear & radiological technicians. Set in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, compared with $6,600 for out-of-state students. Nuclear & Radiological Technicians graduates carry a median of $10,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nuclear & radiological technicians degree recipients from Cowley County Community College generally make around $42,232. That is a strong return on a $10,625 median debt.
Capital Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value nuclear & radiological technicians schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Typical student debt for nuclear & radiological technicians graduates is $12,059. Nuclear & Radiological Technicians graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Louisiana Community College earned the #6 position for value in nuclear & radiological technicians this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,210. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the nuclear & radiological technicians program here. Nuclear & Radiological Technicians graduates of South Louisiana Community College earn a median of $40,042 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Linn State Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value nuclear & radiological technicians schools. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,160, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. Students borrow a median of $11,042 to complete the nuclear & radiological technicians program here. Soon after graduation, nuclear & radiological technicians degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $49,762. That is a strong return on a $11,042 median debt.
Narrow Nuclear & Radiological Technicians Schools by Region
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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).
[Nuclear & Radiological Technicians](/majors/science-technologies-technicians/nuclear-and-radiological-technicians/) 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.
