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.
College Factual analyzed 299 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the machine tool technology/machinist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Williamson College Of The Trades the best value for a degree in machine tool technology/machinist 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. The acceptance rate is 22%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #2 place for machine tool technology/machinist. 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. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #3 spot this year. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $10,655. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $41,132. 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 #4 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,095, compared with $7,445 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from East Mississippi Community College generally make around $35,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #5 spot this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $17,616. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
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Clover Park Technical College landed the #6 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. Students from in state pay about $6,634 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,154 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,209. That is a strong return on a $15,154 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College placed #7 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $42,162. That is a strong return on a $6,440 median debt.
South Texas College earned the #8 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Bates Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,051 ten years after entry.
Del Mar College placed #10 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Horry Georgetown Technical College placed #11 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $5,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $33,002. That is a strong return on a $5,875 median debt.
Santa Ana College earned the #12 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $45,864. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chabot College earned the #13 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, compared with $8,686 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $85,175. Set against $14,122 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Coast College placed #14 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Wyoming College landed the #15 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the town of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,290, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,951 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $40,902. That is a strong return on a $6,951 median debt.
Lansing Community College came in at #16 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Bellingham Technical College landed the #17 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,431, while out-of-state students pay about $5,809. Median earnings reach $49,748 ten years out.
Tri County Technical College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,448, compared with $12,007 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,787 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Tri County Technical College earn a median of $43,438 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,787 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #19 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,810 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,810 median debt.
Elgin Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $7,727. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College landed the #21 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $47,556 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Allan Hancock College placed #23 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Maria. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
Pearl River Community College came in at #24 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the rural area of Poplarville, Pearl River Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,700, while out-of-state students pay about $6,100. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $13,482 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Pearl River Community College generally make around $34,785. Set against $13,482 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College landed the #25 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $48,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in machine tool technology/machinist:
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Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Machine Tool Technology/Machinist rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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.