[Machine Tool Technology/Machinist](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 57 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for machine tool technology/machinist students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine tool technology/machinist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Cerritos College the best value for a degree in machine tool technology/machinist in the Far Western Region. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $11,306. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Reedley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,500. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clover Park Technical College earned it the #3 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. Set against $15,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #4 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $45,864. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Bates Technical College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Median earnings reach $50,051 ten years out.
College Of The Redwoods came in at #6 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,196, compared with $8,852 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. 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.
Pasadena City College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City 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 $10,924. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College placed #8 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chabot College landed the #9 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
De Anza College landed the #10 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,571, compared with $12,596 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $7,271. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,596. That is a strong return on a $7,271 median debt.
Renton Technical College earned the #11 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Renton Technical College earn a median of $80,411 early in their careers. Set against $18,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College earned the #12 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College came in at #13 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $46,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allan Hancock College landed the #14 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,786.
Bellingham Technical College earned the #15 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,431, compared with $5,809 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $49,748 ten years out.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #16 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $14,692. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Camino Community College District earned the #17 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, with out-of-state students paying around $7,630. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,589.
Palomar College earned the #18 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
Seattle Community College South Campus earned the #19 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,208, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Median earnings reach $44,486 ten years out.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #20 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology generally make around $60,000. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Truckee Meadows Community College earned the #21 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,290. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $52,785. That is a strong return on a $12,290 median debt.
Spokane Community College earned the #22 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $35,309. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Mt Hood Community College came in at #23 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, while out-of-state students pay about $9,819. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $18,767 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Mt Hood Community College earn a median of $53,948 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,767 median debt.
Lower Columbia College placed #24 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Longview, Lower Columbia College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,626 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,003. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $14,340. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Lower Columbia College earn a median of $53,280 early in their careers. Set against $14,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lassen Community College landed the #25 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Lassen Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Susanville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,144, compared with $9,280 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,994.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s machine tool technology/machinist value ranking:
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Notes and References
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 · 57 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
