by our College Data Analytics Team
[Machine Tool Technology/Machinist](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong machine tool technology/machinist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 299 schools to find the best return on investment for machine tool technology/machinist students.
What’s on this page:
Where you study machine tool technology/machinist affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Machine Tool Technology/Machinist Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Machine Tool Technology/Machinist Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine tool technology/machinist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Williamson College Of The Trades earned the #1 spot for value among machine tool technology/machinist schools in the United States. Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Media. Students from in state pay about $31,611 in tuition and fees. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Cerritos College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $11,306. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Mississippi Community College earned it the #3 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,095 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,445. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from East Mississippi Community College generally make around $35,345. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pima Community College earned it the #4 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $41,132. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Reedley College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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South Texas College landed the #6 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,868. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brazosport College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College landed the #8 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $17,616. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Clover Park Technical College earned the #9 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. In-state tuition and fees average $6,634. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,209. That is a strong return on a $15,154 median debt.
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #10 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,518 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $5,875. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $33,002. That is a strong return on a $5,875 median debt.
Illinois Valley Community College landed the #11 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florence Darlington Technical College came in at #12 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $34,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College placed #13 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,440 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $42,162 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,440 median debt.
Hinds Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $22,434 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College placed #15 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $7,476. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $40,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Area Community College placed #16 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,440, with out-of-state students paying around $7,440. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,470 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $36,123. That is a strong return on a $9,470 median debt.
Santa Ana College placed #17 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $45,864 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community College Central City landed the #18 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Central City is a small public institution. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,037. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Gateway Community College Central City earn a median of $45,781 early in their careers. Set against $15,037 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bates Technical College earned the #19 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,051.
College Of The Redwoods landed the #20 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Eureka. In-state tuition and fees average $1,196, while out-of-state students pay about $8,852. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from College Of The Redwoods generally make around $98,703. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt.
Chabot College earned the #21 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $14,122. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Chabot College earn a median of $85,175 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
El Paso Community College placed #22 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Copiah Lincoln Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wesson. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241.
Renton Technical College earned the #24 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $18,582. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.
Trident Technical College earned the #25 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in machine tool technology/machinist:
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Machine Tool Technology/Machinist. Browse the parent area of study.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 299 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.