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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine tool technology/machinist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Washtenaw Community College earned the #1 spot for value among machine tool technology/machinist schools in the Great Lakes Region. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois Valley Community College earned it the #2 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $33,224. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Danville Area Community College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,440, with out-of-state students paying around $7,440. Students borrow a median of $9,470 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $36,123. Set against $9,470 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kankakee Community College earned it the #4 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, compared with $25,830 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Kalamazoo Valley Community College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $44,198. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
ADBLOCK #101
Lansing Community College came in at #6 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Set against $16,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alpena Community College placed #7 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alpena. In-state tuition and fees average $6,840, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Alpena Community College generally make around $45,132. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Students borrow a median of $6,599 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $49,030 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College came in at #9 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College placed #10 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $9,785. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College earned the #12 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage came in at #13 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College placed #14 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $37,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kellogg Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,118, with out-of-state students paying around $8,282. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $20,432 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $32,616. Set against $20,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $31,692 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Spoon River College came in at #17 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the rural area of Canton, Spoon River College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,500 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $38,386 ten years out.
Rend Lake College placed #18 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,500, while out-of-state students pay about $7,800. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $8,688. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,770. Set against $8,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lakeshore Technical College landed the #19 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $11,582. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $48,619 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #20 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Wayne County Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $3,112, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $20,820. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $48,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeland Community College landed the #21 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College landed the #22 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Jackson Community College generally make around $41,322. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sauk Valley Community College landed the #23 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the rural area of Dixon, Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,340, with out-of-state students paying around $12,900. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,811. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of $48,855 early in their careers. Set against $12,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #24 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $5,500. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $42,282 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #25 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $43,380. 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:
Narrow Machine Tool Technology/Machinist Schools by State
[Machine Tool Technology/Machinist](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong machine tool technology/machinist education at a price that pays off.
