2026 Best Value Science Technologies / Technicians Schools in the Southwest Region
[Science Technologies / Technicians](/majors/science-technologies-technicians/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong science technologies / technicians education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value science technologies / technicians schools.
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2026 Best Value Science Technologies / Technicians Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the science technologies / technicians degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Science Technologies / Technicians Schools
Brazosport College tops our 2026 list of the best value science technologies / technicians schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in science technologies / technicians will find it at College Of The Mainland, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the science technologies / technicians program here. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $49,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Alvin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in science technologies / technicians, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $7,801. Early-career science technologies / technicians graduates make about $53,440. That is a strong return on a $7,801 median debt.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value science technologies / technicians schools. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the science technologies / technicians program here. Soon after graduation, science technologies / technicians degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $49,932. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Del Mar College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value science technologies / technicians schools. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $7,000. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $56,948 early in their careers. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victoria College came in at #6 for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Located in the city of Victoria, Victoria College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,976 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,328. Students borrow a median of $10,910 to complete the science technologies / technicians program here. Soon after graduation, science technologies / technicians degree recipients from Victoria College generally make around $50,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #7 spot for science technologies / technicians value this year. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates carry a median of $16,625 in student loans. Early-career science technologies / technicians graduates make about $45,277. Set against $16,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur placed #8 among the best values for science technologies / technicians. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $33,385. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of Lamar State College Port Arthur earn a median of $78,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District came in at #9 for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the science technologies / technicians program here. Soon after graduation, science technologies / technicians degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
Northern New Mexico College earned the #10 position for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Set in the town of Espanola, Northern New Mexico College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,064, compared with $14,328 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,112.
Lee College earned the #11 position for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates carry a median of $9,598 in student loans. Soon after graduation, science technologies / technicians degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $94,986. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College came in at #12 for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $17,208. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $68,335 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,208 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #13 for value in science technologies / technicians this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the science technologies / technicians program here. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $59,496 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Houston Community College came in at #14 for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $21,740 to complete the science technologies / technicians program here. Soon after graduation, science technologies / technicians degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $60,612. That is a strong return on a $21,740 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology landed the #15 spot for science technologies / technicians value this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $15,500. Early-career science technologies / technicians graduates make about $42,539. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center placed #16 among the best values for science technologies / technicians. Southern Oklahoma Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Ardmore. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,012 ten years after entry.
Lone Star College System earned the #17 position for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the science technologies / technicians program here. Early-career science technologies / technicians graduates make about $53,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas State Technical College landed the #18 spot for science technologies / technicians 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. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $11,959. Early-career science technologies / technicians graduates make about $42,769. That is a strong return on a $11,959 median debt.
Rose State College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value science technologies / technicians schools. Located in the suburb of Midwest City, Rose State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,030, compared with $11,407 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $13,451. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of Rose State College earn a median of $50,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arizona State University earned the #20 position for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $28,312. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $60,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,312 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Northern Arizona University landed the #21 spot for science technologies / technicians value this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $22,918. Soon after graduation, science technologies / technicians degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $44,338. Set against $22,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona earned the #22 position for value in science technologies / technicians this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $48,334 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Baylor University placed #23 among the best values for science technologies / technicians. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Typical student debt for science technologies / technicians graduates is $23,928. Science Technologies / Technicians graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Set against $23,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
