2026 Best Value Chemical Technology/Technician Associate’s Degree Schools

[Chemical Technology/Technician](/majors/science-technologies-technicians/physical-science-technicians/chemical-technology-technician/) 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 89 schools to find the best return on investment for chemical technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Chemical Technology/Technician Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemical technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemical Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Brazosport College the best value for a degree in chemical technology/technician in the United States. Set in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,388 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,711 for out-of-state students. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $32,746. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Mainland came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $49,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,875 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $48,049. Set against $10,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Students borrow a median of $7,839 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $54,543. That is a strong return on a $7,839 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Lamar State College Orange one of the best values for chemical technology/technician. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $12,000. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $49,932 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $56,948 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in chemical technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $61,539. Set against $10,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victoria College landed the #8 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Victoria, Victoria College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,976, compared with $5,328 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $10,910. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Victoria College generally make around $50,201. Set against $10,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur placed #9 among the best values for chemical technology/technician. Set in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,770, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $33,385. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $78,580. Set against $33,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wharton County Junior College earned the #10 position for value in chemical technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $16,625 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $45,277. Set against $16,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College placed #11 among the best values for chemical technology/technician. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $9,598. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $94,986. That is a strong return on a $9,598 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #12 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $59,496. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,208 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Kilgore College generally make around $68,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College landed the #14 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $21,740 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $60,612 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #15 position for value in chemical technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,844 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,924. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $42,539. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State College landed the #16 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,401 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,979 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical technology/technician graduates is $13,356. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $52,597. That is a strong return on a $13,356 median debt.
Lone Star College System ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical technology/technician schools. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, chemical technology/technician degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $53,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas State Technical College landed the #18 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. Students borrow a median of $11,959 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Texas State Technical College earn a median of $40,747 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,959 median debt.
Valencia College landed the #19 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Chemical Technology/technician graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $42,786 early in their careers. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weber State University landed the #20 spot for chemical technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Chemical Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $22,442 in student loans. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $51,384. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #21 position for value in chemical technology/technician this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete the chemical technology/technician program here. Early-career chemical technology/technician graduates make about $49,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Other Chemical Technology/Technician Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Chemical Technology/Technician rankings across degree levels:
View All Chemical Technology/Technician 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 · 89 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.