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2026 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine shop technology/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
For return on investment in machine shop technology/assistant, no school beat Central Piedmont Community College this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $40,149. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College one of the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,413 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $40,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Owensboro Community And Technical College one of the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $7,475 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $45,366. Set against $7,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in machine shop technology/assistant will find it at St Philips College, which ranked #4. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Elizabethtown Community And Technical College one of the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $7,166 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College generally make around $48,709. Set against $7,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
ADBLOCK #101
Muskegon Community College earned the #6 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muskegon. Students from in state pay about $7,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,010. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,928 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Muskegon Community College earn a median of $48,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $42,233. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lenoir Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,578, while out-of-state students pay about $8,822. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,984 in student loans. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $38,736. Set against $9,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #9 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,810 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $56,292. That is a strong return on a $6,810 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #10 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $10,684. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $46,133 early in their careers. Set against $10,684 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Located in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,820 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $36,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,820 median debt.
Westmoreland County Community College placed #12 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,728. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $37,439 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Isothermal Community College came in at #13 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Spindale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,030, compared with $6,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Isothermal Community College earn a median of $47,389 early in their careers. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $10,022. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $27,696. That is a strong return on a $10,022 median debt.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earned the #15 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,281 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #16 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $31,692. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Mountwest Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington, Mountwest Community And Technical College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,938, with out-of-state students paying around $12,304. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $11,763. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Mountwest Community And Technical College generally make around $37,004. Set against $11,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #18 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $4,737. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $36,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lower Columbia College landed the #19 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Longview, Lower Columbia College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,626, while out-of-state students pay about $6,003. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,340 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Lower Columbia College generally make around $53,280. That is a strong return on a $14,340 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,218, compared with $8,851 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $11,900. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $38,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #21 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $43,380 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Red Rocks Community College earned the #22 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $76,340. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Catawba Valley Community College placed #23 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,427, compared with $7,803 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $9,842. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Catawba Valley Community College earn a median of $38,219 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,842 median debt.
Community College Of Denver came in at #24 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,058, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $45,202 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #25 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $41,037. Set against $16,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s machine shop technology/assistant value ranking:
Other Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Degree Levels
Explore the best-value machine shop technology/assistant schools at other degree levels:
[Machine Shop Technology/Assistant](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-shop-technology-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
