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Surgical tech programs in Chicago, Illinois

11 surgical tech programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

9 schools offer these surgical technology programs with classes in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area, and every one is approved for workforce funding: 7 by Illinois and 4 by Indiana. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, prepare operating rooms, arrange the equipment and help doctors during surgery. Most have a certificate or an associate degree from an accredited program, and some employers require certification.1

In Chicago, 4 of the 11 programs take students without a high school diploma and 7 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 11 programs here are surgical technology (associate degree, 6 programs), surgical technology certificate or diploma (3 programs), surgical assistant certificate (1 program) and surgical tech program (level not stated, 1 program).

See the 11 programs

All 17 surgical tech programs in Illinois, including online programs

How much do surgical tech programs cost in Chicago?

Two-year degrees (6 programs)
$12,017 to $33,390all 2 with a price, usually 80 to 102 weeks long
Other surgical technology programs (4 programs)
$24,000 to $24,500all 2 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it.

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
52 to 88 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Chicago may also offer surgical tech programs. How these figures are made

Are there free surgical tech programs in Chicago?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 11 surgical tech programs in Chicago approved for WIOA funding

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11 programs

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Surgical Technology Associate Of Applied Science (aas)

    Ivy Tech Community College

    Valparaiso

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Ivy Tech Community College, ValparaisoSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$40,700
    Price if you pay yourself$12,017
    Program website, Surgical Technology Associate Of Applied Science (aas) at Ivy Tech Community College
    More details about Surgical Technology Associate Of Applied Science (aas) at Ivy Tech Community College
    Finished
    77%
    Working at 6 months
    82%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,173
    Length
    104 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $85
    Students counted
    154
    Earned a year, estimated
    $40,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,017
    Program website, Surgical Technology Associate Of Applied Science (aas) at Ivy Tech Community College

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)HybridNo diploma needed

    Associate Applied Of Science Surgical Technology

    University Of Saint Francis

    Crown Point

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    University Of Saint Francis, Crown PointSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$33,390

    4 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Associate Applied Of Science Surgical Technology at University Of Saint Francis
    More details about Associate Applied Of Science Surgical Technology at University Of Saint Francis
    Finished
    38%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    104 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,150
    Students counted
    24
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $33,390
    students trained with WIOA funding
    4
    Program website, Associate Applied Of Science Surgical Technology at University Of Saint Francis

  • Surgical technology certificate or diplomaHybridNo diploma needed

    Surgical Technologist

    Stellar Career College

    Crown Point

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Stellar Career College, Crown PointSurgical technology certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$24,000
    Program website, Surgical Technologist at Stellar Career College
    More details about Surgical Technologist at Stellar Career College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    56 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,050
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $24,000
    Program website, Surgical Technologist at Stellar Career College

  • Surgical assistant certificateHybridNo diploma needed

    Surgical Assistant

    Stellar Career College

    Crown Point

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Stellar Career College, Crown PointSurgical assistant certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$24,500
    Program website, Surgical Assistant at Stellar Career College
    More details about Surgical Assistant at Stellar Career College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    48 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $550
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $24,500
    Program website, Surgical Assistant at Stellar Career College

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    A.A.S. Surgical Technology Degree

    Harper College

    Palatine

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Harper College, PalatineSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, A.A.S. Surgical Technology Degree at Harper College
    More details about A.A.S. Surgical Technology Degree at Harper College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    80 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, A.A.S. Surgical Technology Degree at Harper College

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)HybridEducation and courses

    Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology

    Midwestern Career College

    Naperville

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Midwestern Career College, NapervilleSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology at Midwestern Career College
    More details about Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology at Midwestern Career College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    80 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology at Midwestern Career College

  • Surgical technology certificate or diplomaHybridEducation and courses

    Surgical Technologist

    Stellar Career College

    Chicago

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Stellar Career College, ChicagoSurgical technology certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Surgical Technologist at Stellar Career College
    More details about Surgical Technologist at Stellar Career College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    48 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Surgical Technologist at Stellar Career College

  • Surgical tech program (level not stated)In personPrerequisite courses

    Surgical Technology

    Malcolm X College

    Chicago

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Malcolm X College, ChicagoSurgical tech program (level not stated) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Malcolm X College
    More details about Surgical Technology at Malcolm X College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    80 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Malcolm X College

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses

    Surgical Technology - AAS Degree

    College Of DuPage

    Glen Ellyn

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    College Of DuPage, Glen EllynSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Surgical Technology - AAS Degree at College Of DuPage
    More details about Surgical Technology - AAS Degree at College Of DuPage
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    96 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Surgical Technology - AAS Degree at College Of DuPage

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    Surgical Technology AAS

    Elgin Comm. College District #509

    Elgin

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Elgin Comm. College District #509, ElginSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Surgical Technology AAS at Elgin Comm. College District #509
    More details about Surgical Technology AAS at Elgin Comm. College District #509
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    64 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Surgical Technology AAS at Elgin Comm. College District #509

  • Surgical technology certificate or diplomaIn personEducation and courses

    Surgical Technology VS

    Elgin Comm. College District #509

    Elgin

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Elgin Comm. College District #509, ElginSurgical technology certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Surgical Technology VS at Elgin Comm. College District #509
    More details about Surgical Technology VS at Elgin Comm. College District #509
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    48 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Surgical Technology VS at Elgin Comm. College District #509

How to pay for surgical tech programs in Chicago

WIOA funding can pay for surgical tech programs in Chicago

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for surgical tech programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for surgical tech programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Other training in Chicago

How surgical tech programs compare with the rest of allied health across Illinois: Allied health programs in Illinois

Where the Chicago surgical technology program numbers come from

Which Chicago surgical technology programs are on this list?

These are the surgical technology programs with classes in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area that are approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Online programs are left out here; they are on the Illinois page. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what the area offers.

How the prices and results of Chicago surgical technology programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Illinois figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Illinois among the states with "known data quality concerns".10 We leave out the share who finished for Illinois: only a few programs report it, and those at a typical 11%. We leave out prices for Illinois: the state files a code in place of each price, so no price can be shown.

Sources for the facts about surgical tech programs in Chicago

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Surgical Technologists
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List
  10. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: search page, note on states with known data quality concerns