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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1 Colleges in the United States
388 Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Degrees Awarded
$42,038 Avg Early-Career Salary

Machine Shop Technology/Assistant programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for machine shop technology/assistant students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Machine Shop Technology/Assistant in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the machine shop technology/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Machine Shop Technology/Assistant

1

No school ranked higher than Fox Valley Technical College this year for machine shop technology/assistant. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. There were roughly 37 machine shop technology/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $52,978. Students borrow a median of $7,664 to complete this degree. Read more about the machine shop technology/assistant program at Fox Valley Technical College

2
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in machine shop technology/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. About 182 machine shop technology/assistant degrees were awarded at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their machine shop technology/assistant degree from Ivy Tech Community College earn around $49,030 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,599 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in machine shop technology/assistant from Ivy Tech Community College

3

Waukesha County Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in machine shop technology/assistant, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Waukesha County Technical College awarded about 17 machine shop technology/assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their machine shop technology/assistant degree from Waukesha County Technical College earn around $43,380 in the first couple years of their career. Waukesha County Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Get the full machine shop technology/assistant details for Waukesha County Technical College

4

Students looking for a strong machine shop technology/assistant program will find one at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, which ranked #4. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. There were roughly 60 machine shop technology/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $41,421. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full machine shop technology/assistant program report for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

5
Illinois Central College crest
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL

A rank of #5 makes Illinois Central College one of the top schools for machine shop technology/assistant. This large public university is located in the suburb of East Peoria. About 19 machine shop technology/assistant degrees were awarded at Illinois Central College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete this degree. See the full machine shop technology/assistant program report for Illinois Central College

6

Grand Rapids Community College earned the #6 position for machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 10 machine shop technology/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Grand Rapids Community College in the most recent data year. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $42,066 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $4,540. Get the full machine shop technology/assistant details for Grand Rapids Community College

7

Southwestern Illinois College came in at #7 for machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. There were roughly 29 machine shop technology/assistant students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the machine shop technology/assistant program make about $31,692 in their early career. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Get the full machine shop technology/assistant details for Southwestern Illinois College

8
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL

Mchenry County College placed #8 among the best machine shop technology/assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. About 17 machine shop technology/assistant degrees were awarded at Mchenry County College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440. Read more about the machine shop technology/assistant program at Mchenry County College

9
Parkland College crest
Parkland College
Champaign, IL

Parkland College came in at #9 for machine shop technology/assistant this year. Parkland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Champaign. About 17 machine shop technology/assistant degrees were awarded at Parkland College in the most recent year. Students who receive their machine shop technology/assistant degree from Parkland College earn around $40,409 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,168. Get the full machine shop technology/assistant details for Parkland College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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