Explore the schools
Costs below are school-published estimates, not quotes for your enrollment. Check the year, residency category, and extra expenses. This list is not ranked.
Phoenix, Arizona
GateWay Community College
$12,086–$17,057
In-county estimate; books extra
AAS · confirm timeline
A useful place to start if you want to see published costs and recent outcomes together. GateWay reports a three-year outcome summary, which gives you more context than a single graduating class.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: $12,086–$17,057 estimate, in-county; books excluded
Credential and schedule: AAS; current catalog shows 70.5–97 credits
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
2023–25: 81% CST pass, 100% graduate placement, 80% retention; 100% exam participation
Before you apply: Ask how many graduates are included in the 2023–25 results, what counts as job placement, and which clinical sites your cohort can use.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa Community College
Request total
Current total not confirmed
AAS · confirm timeline
Tulsa publishes encouraging 2025 results. Read the placement figure carefully: it combines employment with continuing education, so it does not mean every graduate started a surgical tech job.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: Program cost estimate linked by school; current comparable total not verified here
Credential and schedule: AAS
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
2025 graduates: 100% CST pass, 90% completion, 100% job placement or continuing education
Before you apply: Request the current cost estimate, the number of graduates behind each percentage, and a separate employment figure.
Tucson, Arizona
Pima Community College
$10,094.06
2026–27 in-state estimate
AAS · 2 years
Pima gives Arizona residents a concrete starting point for budgeting, with a published 2026–27 cost sheet. The program also describes a mock operating room and assigned clinical experience.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: $10,094.06 estimated in-state total for 2026–27; additional expenses may apply
Credential and schedule: AAS; 2 years full-time, in person
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Mock OR lab and assigned clinical experience; CST pass rates: 2023 100%, 2024 80%, 2025 80%
Before you apply: Get a written estimate for your residency status and ask about clinical travel, scheduling, and expenses beyond the published total.
Las Vegas, Nevada
College of Southern Nevada
$7,937.50 + extras
2025 base tuition only
AAS · 62.5 credits
CSN’s published base tuition may look appealing, but it is only part of the bill. Its outcome figures in this review are from 2023, so ask what has happened since then.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: 2025 advising sheet estimates $7,937.50 base tuition plus fees, books, labs and other costs; residency affects bill
Credential and schedule: AAS; 62.5 credits listed
Accreditation: CAAHEP; CSN accreditation page says accredited. Confirm the current exact program listing.
2023 annual report: 100% CST pass, 85% placement, 65% retention; lab and clinical rotations
Before you apply: Request an itemized total and the latest completion, certification, and placement results.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga State Community College
$10,618 / $32,799
2024–25 in-state / out-of-state estimate
AAS · 5 semesters
Residency makes a large difference in the school’s published estimate. If you live outside Tennessee, compare the out-of-state bill with accredited options closer to home.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: School estimate: $10,618 in-state / $32,799 out-of-state; based on 2024–25 course fees and excludes other campus classes
Credential and schedule: AAS; five semesters listed
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
2022–24 outcomes: CST pass 90%, 93%, 70%; job placement 100% each year; courses include lab or clinical hours
Before you apply: Ask for updated fees and the student counts behind the 2024 exam results. The estimate below uses 2024–25 fees and excludes some classes.
Dayton, Ohio
Sinclair Community College
Varies by residency
Program expenses extra
AAS · 5 semesters
Sinclair describes supervised operating-room practice across a wide range of specialties. That is useful detail when you are trying to picture what clinical training will involve.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: Current per-credit fees vary by county residency; program-specific expenses extra
Credential and schedule: AAS; 60 credits; five semesters full-time
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Supervised OR clinical practice across general, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, ENT, orthopedics, neuro, thoracic and vascular surgery
Before you apply: Ask which placements are available to your cohort, how they are assigned, and what the full program will cost for your county of residence.
San Bernardino County, California
San Manuel Gateway College / Loma Linda University
$40,913
2025–26 program estimate
AS · 21 months
The program describes a clear clinical case requirement and hospital-based experience. Its published price and 2024 exam and employment figures deserve a careful conversation before you commit.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: 2025–26 published program cost: $40,913; 2026–27 tuition/fees listed by year, books extra
Credential and schedule: AS; 21 months; seven academic quarters typical
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Minimum 120 cases (30 general, 90 specialties); 2024 first-attempt CST pass 42%, placement in ST positions 38%, completion 94%
Before you apply: Request newer outcomes, graduate counts, and an explanation of the 2024 results. Ask for the full cost for your start date. These figures alone do not establish misconduct or overall program quality.
Summerdale, Pennsylvania
Central Penn College
Request total
Current total not confirmed
AAS · 18 months
Central Penn describes an 18-month associate degree and a 120-case internship. A tuition-reimbursement offer may be relevant, but the work commitment and eligibility conditions belong in your budget decision.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: Exact total not verified in program page
Credential and schedule: AAS; 18 months
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Observation and internship; 120-case internship. UPMC tuition reimbursement depends on hire, exam success, and work commitment
Before you apply: Read the reimbursement agreement before relying on it. Ask what you owe if you do not meet the exam, hiring, or employment conditions.
Topeka, Kansas
Washburn Tech
Request total
Current total not confirmed
1 year · confirm credential
Washburn lists a one-year program and an associate-degree pathway with Washburn University. A shorter program can be appealing, but you still need to account for prerequisites and weekday clinical time.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: Current tuition rate is posted; complete surgical-tech total not verified
Credential and schedule: Program length listed as 1 year; AS pathway with Washburn University described
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Handbook lists 120 cases and a weekday clinical schedule; CST exam eligibility stated
Before you apply: Confirm the credential you will receive, the complete timeline, current fees, and the latest graduate outcomes.
El Paso, Texas
El Paso Community College
Request total
Current total not confirmed
AAS · 2 years
El Paso describes a two-year associate program with a limited-entry admission process. Check the application calendar early so you can plan prerequisites and any waiting period.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: Current full program cost not verified in the reviewed page
Credential and schedule: AAS; two-year associate program
Accreditation: CAAHEP, per official program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Specialized admission with 15 seats; program map describes CST exam as capstone
Before you apply: Ask for the current cost sheet, clinical schedule and case requirements, plus recent completion and exam results.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Request total
Current total not confirmed
Associate · 5 semesters
MATC publishes cohort-level CST results and describes a five-semester associate degree. Those details help you start a comparison, but this review still needs a current program-directory check.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: Full current program total not established in reviewed page
Credential and schedule: Associate degree; 65 credits; five semesters
Accreditation: Programmatic status requires current directory check before ranking. Confirm the current exact program listing.
School posts cohort-level CST pass data through May 2025; most recent listed rate 64%
Before you apply: Confirm the exact program’s accreditation, ask about the latest exam results, and request a full cost and clinical-placement breakdown.
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
College of DuPage
$11,292.87–$11,612.87
In-district estimate; clinical extras
AAS · 2 years + prerequisites
The published in-district estimate gives local students a starting point. Prerequisites come before the two-year program, and the outcome series found in this review is too old to describe today’s results.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: $11,292.87–$11,612.87 in-district estimate plus variable clinical requirements
Credential and schedule: AAS; 2 years full-time, after prerequisites
Accreditation: CAAHEP per program page. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Classroom, lab and clinical instruction; published pass/placement series located on program page is historical (2016–18)
Before you apply: Ask for a current outcome report, your residency-based total, and a timeline that includes prerequisites.
Takoma Park / Silver Spring, Maryland
Montgomery College
Request total
Current total not confirmed
Confirm credential & length
The program’s resource page includes older exam results. Before judging the program from those figures, ask for the latest report and the number of students in each cohort.
Cost, training & questions to ask
Cost notes: Tuition plus separate estimated expenses; full total not calculated
Credential and schedule: Credential and duration not fully captured in reviewed source
Accreditation: Confirm current program listing in CAAHEP directory. Confirm the current exact program listing.
Official page lists 2023 CST pass rate of 30% and older yearly outcomes
Before you apply: Confirm the current program listing, credential, length, full cost, clinical arrangements, and recent placement results.
Prefer a table? Compare all 13 programs
Prices use different years and residency categories. Read each school’s cost notes before comparing. Swipe sideways on a small screen.
| School | State | Time / credential | Published cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| GateWay Community College | AZ | AAS · confirm timeline |
$12,086–$17,057 In-county estimate; books extra |
| Tulsa Community College | OK | AAS · confirm timeline |
Request total Current total not confirmed |
| Pima Community College | AZ | AAS · 2 years |
$10,094.06 2026–27 in-state estimate |
| College of Southern Nevada | NV | AAS · 62.5 credits |
$7,937.50 + extras 2025 base tuition only |
| Chattanooga State Community College | TN | AAS · 5 semesters |
$10,618 / $32,799 2024–25 in-state / out-of-state estimate |
| Sinclair Community College | OH | AAS · 5 semesters |
Varies by residency Program expenses extra |
| San Manuel Gateway College / Loma Linda University | CA | AS · 21 months |
$40,913 2025–26 program estimate |
| Central Penn College | PA | AAS · 18 months |
Request total Current total not confirmed |
| Washburn Tech | KS | 1 year · confirm credential |
Request total Current total not confirmed |
| El Paso Community College | TX | AAS · 2 years |
Request total Current total not confirmed |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | WI | Associate · 5 semesters |
Request total Current total not confirmed |
| College of DuPage | IL | AAS · 2 years + prerequisites |
$11,292.87–$11,612.87 In-district estimate; clinical extras |
| Montgomery College | MD | Confirm credential & length |
Request total Current total not confirmed |
Accreditation and certification are separate checks.
A college’s accreditation does not automatically tell you whether its surgical technology program has the accreditation you need. Check the program name and campus, then check the certification route you plan to use.
The school, the program, and the exam
Institutional accreditation applies to the school as a whole. Programmatic accreditation applies to a particular training program. ARC/STSA reviews surgical technology programs and recommends accreditation to CAAHEP.
CST: NBSTSA lists graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program as an eligibility route for new graduates. NBSTSA makes the final eligibility decision.
TS-C: NCCT has separate education and experience pathways. Check its current requirements and whether employers and state rules accept that route for the job you want.
Eligibility lets you apply for an exam; it does not promise a passing score or a job. Before choosing a school, read actual job postings in your area and check your state’s requirements.
CAAHEP directory · ABHES directory · CST eligibility · TS-C pathways
How we evaluate programs and handle corrections
A percentage means little without its year, student count, and definition. The same goes for tuition: comparing one school’s base tuition with another’s full cost can make a program look cheaper than it is.
These are the weights planned for a future ranking. Scores remain withheld while we check comparable evidence across the programs.
Missing information will be labeled as an open question, not counted as a failing result. School-reported outcomes will stay clearly identified, and any future score must explain its evidence, coverage, and calculation.
Editorial and corrections policy
No school may buy a ranking position or a higher score. Any sponsorship or commercial relationship will be disclosed. If a figure is wrong or out of date, send the school name, the statement, and an official supporting document through our about/contact page. Corrections should include the source and review date.
What about the “worst” surgical tech schools?
Students deserve clear warnings when a program has documented problems. But a high price, private ownership, online coursework, or an unpublished outcome is not enough to call a school bad.
This review does not yet support a national worst-school list. It does identify questions worth pursuing: large residency price differences, older outcome reports, incomplete cost estimates, and exam or employment results that need more context. Those concerns appear in the school notes above.
Slow down if a school cannot explain its certification route, clinical placement plan, or total bill. Ask for the documents before committing money.
A few things to clear up before applying.
Can I become a surgical tech entirely online?
Some classroom coursework may be online. You still need practical skills training and supervised clinical experience. Ask exactly where labs and rotations happen, who arranges them, and how much travel is involved.
Does an accredited college automatically qualify me for the CST exam?
No. Check the surgical technology program’s accreditation and the current NBSTSA eligibility rules. The college’s general accreditation is not enough to establish program eligibility.
How do I compare programs with different lengths?
Count the time from where you are now to graduation, including prerequisites and admission waits. Then check whether the lab and clinical schedule fits your work and family commitments.
Is the cheapest program the best value?
Compare the full cost with the training you receive, the certification route, and recent graduate outcomes. A nearby program may also reduce travel and living expenses, but every budget is different.
Why aren’t these schools ranked from 1 to 13?
The available figures use different years, definitions, and cost categories. We need to resolve those gaps before a numbered ranking would be fair. For now, use the comparison to build a shortlist and ask better questions.
Where these details come from.
The original research reviewed official program, accreditor, and certification pages on October 27, 2026. School links appear in the table and profiles. Published outcome figures are institutional reports, not independently audited results. This guide covers a selected sample of programs; it is not a complete national survey.
Cost sheets, outcomes, and accreditation references
Programs outside this comparison and remaining research
Community College of Philadelphia, Broome Community College, Manchester Community College, Middlesex Community College, Trenholm State, Portland Community College, and Wenatchee Valley College remain research leads. Their current accreditation, costs, clinical arrangements, and outcomes were not checked for this review, so they are not ranked or characterized negatively.
Valencia College’s associate-program listing reviewed for the original draft did not include surgical technology. Carolinas College of Health Sciences’ 2025–26 catalog states that its program closed, with the last class graduating in May 2018. Neither is included as a current program here.
Before a national ranking is published, the research must cover at least 15 current candidates using the same checklist, confirm exact program accreditation, reconcile cost and outcome definitions, and check applicable state requirements. Affordable, accelerated, regional, and other category rankings also remain pending.
Program costs, schedules, accreditation, and requirements can change. Confirm the details for your campus and start date before applying or paying a deposit.
Take these six questions to admissions.
Ask for written answers. You should be able to compare schools without relying on a sales conversation.
What will I actually pay?
Request tuition, mandatory fees, books, uniforms, health clearances, exam fees, and clinical travel costs. Make sure the estimate uses your residency status.
Which certification can I pursue?
Ask which exam the exact program prepares you for, then check the certifying organization’s eligibility rules yourself.
Who arranges my clinical placement?
Find out where rotations happen, how sites are assigned, what supervision you receive, and what happens if a placement is delayed.
Can I make the schedule work?
Include prerequisites, lab days, clinical shifts, travel, and any waiting period. Online classes do not make operating-room training remote.
What happened to recent graduates?
Ask for completion, exam, and employment results with dates and student counts. Find out whether “placement” includes continuing education.
What if my plans change?
Read the withdrawal, refund, financing, and reimbursement terms. Ask what you would owe if you leave the program or cannot meet a work commitment.
Check the jobs before you choose the school.
Look at openings where you want to work. Check the certifications employers ask for, the experience they expect, and whether they hire new graduates.
See surgical tech jobs →Jobs by state Jobs by city State requirements Salary guide New graduate guide