College of the Mainland surgical technology program costs $2,315. Here is how its graduates do.
An AAS program in Texas City, 60 credit hours; 3 semesters after acceptance.
We are still collecting data for this program. This page will be listed in search once it has published outcomes and a cost or program details.
The short version
- Its published cost is at or below the median for Texas surgical technology programs that publish one ($2,315).
- At 10% of the local median wage for surgical technologists, the program cost is paid back in about 0.3 years.
These lines are generated from the numbers on this page and change when the data does.
How graduates do
ARC/STSA requires every accredited program to publish the same outcome measures, so they can be compared program to program. 3
Graduates who passed the CST certification exam, divided by graduates who took it, as the program reports it to ARC/STSA. Every graduate of an accredited program must sit for the exam. Job placement: graduates employed in surgical technology or a related field, as the program reports it to ARC/STSA.
Where the money goes
About half of every dollar goes to offsite parking (three semesters). Tuition is listed separately as $1,155 per semester (15 credit hours, in-district) and is not included. Clinical site onboarding fees may apply.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Uniforms (3 sets) | $225 |
| Patches (3) | $45 |
| BLS (American Heart) | $70 |
| Background and drug screening | $79 |
| Immunizations and physical | $300 |
| NBSTSA board review | $179 |
| AST membership, study guide and NBSTSA exam fee | $247 |
| Offsite parking (three semesters) | $1,170 |
| Total 1 | $2,315 |
* How we calculated this: The school's stated estimated clinical costs only; tuition not included.
Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Estimated clinical costs (undated, live page).
What surgical technologists earn around Houston
The median yearly wage for surgical technologists in the Houston metro area is $71,050. 2 Payback time sets aside 10% of that each year toward the program cost.
Other surgical technology programs in the Houston area
Compare all 7 surgical technology programs in the Houston area
| Program | CST exam rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston City College AAS, Houston | 100% | Not reported | Not published |
| Lone Star College, Tomball AAS, Tomball | 95.0% | Not reported | Not published |
| Galveston College AAS, Galveston | 63.0% | Not reported | Not published |
| College of the Mainland (this page) AAS, Texas City | Not reported | Not reported | $2,315 |
| San Jacinto College, Central AAS, Pasadena | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
| Fortis College, Houston South Degree (level not named on program page), Houston | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
| The College of Health Care Professions, Houston AAS, Houston | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
After you graduate: getting to work in Texas
Texas has no state license or registration for surgical technologists. Under Health and Safety Code Chapter 259, a licensed or state-run health care facility may only employ someone to practice surgical technology who completed an accredited program and holds current certification from the NBSTSA, the National Center for Competency Testing, or another approved program (with exceptions for military training, pre-Sept 2009 employment, federal service, and documented hiring shortages).
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Graduate from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program to be eligible for the CST exam.4 | Not published |
| Apply to NBSTSA and pass the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam.5 | $340 |
| Start work: a new graduate may be employed for up to 180 days after graduation, then must show the employer proof of certification.6 | Not published |
| Keep certification current; certified technologists must complete the CE their certifying body requires, and others practicing under an exception need 30 hours every two years.7 | Not published |
Typical fees to start working: $340. Counts the CST exam at the non-member price ($340); members of the Association of Surgical Technologists pay $230. There is no state fee. NBSTSA CST certification runs on a two-year cycle requiring 30 CE credits (4 live) and a $40 renewal fee; Texas law requires certified technologists to keep that certification current. Full guide: how to become a surgical technologist in Texas
With College of the Mainland's published cost, the total to finish school and get credentialed is about $2,655, before prerequisites and living costs.
Program facts
- Credential
- AAS
- Length
- 60 credit hours; 3 semesters after acceptance
- Schedule
- In person with some online parts
- Starts
- Next start Aug 21, 2027 (applications Mar 1 to Jun 1, 2027)
- Before you apply
- ENGL 1301, BIOL 2401, HITT 1305, SPCH 1318 and PSYC 2301 or 2314 with a C or better.
- Entrance exam
- HESI A2, 75% or higher in Math, Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar and A&P
- Accreditation
- ARC/STSA, Accredited (CAAHEP)
- Leads to
- NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam
Sources and dates
- College of the Mainland Surgical Technology program page, Estimated clinical costs (undated, live page).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Surgical Technologists (29-2055), May 2025 estimates.
- Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (programs accredited by CAAHEP) (ARC/STSA), checked Nov. 2026.
- NBSTSA CST Eligibility, checked Nov 2026.
- NBSTSA 2025 CST Examination Application, 2025 application form, still the posted version when checked Nov 2026.
- Texas Legislature, HB 643 (81R) enrolled text adding Health and Safety Code Chapter 259, Enacted 2009; current statute page could not be loaded.
- Texas Legislature, SB 1239 (86R) enrolled text amending Sec. 259.002, Effective Sept 1, 2019.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 4, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or ARC/STSA. Our independence policy