[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong machine tool technology/machinist education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for machine tool technology/machinist students.
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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.
Hinds Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools in Mississippi. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $5,500. 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.
A rank of #2 makes East Mississippi Community College one of the best values 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. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $35,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Copiah Lincoln Community College earned it the #3 place for machine tool technology/machinist. 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, compared with $5,200 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Mississippi Delta Community College, which ranked #4. Mississippi Delta Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Moorhead. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,819 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,854. Set against $13,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pearl River Community College earned it the #5 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the rural area of Poplarville, Pearl River Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,700, while out-of-state students pay about $6,100. Students borrow a median of $13,482 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Pearl River Community College generally make around $34,785. That is a strong return on a $13,482 median debt.
Itawamba Community College landed the #6 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $10,942. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Itawamba Community College generally make around $35,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Central Community College came in at #7 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the rural area of Decatur, East Central Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,990 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,090. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,382. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of East Central Community College earn a median of $32,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Holmes Community College placed #8 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,710, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. Students borrow a median of $13,191 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Holmes Community College generally make around $32,145. That is a strong return on a $13,191 median debt.
Meridian Community College earned the #9 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the town of Meridian, Meridian Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,078, while out-of-state students pay about $6,478. Students borrow a median of $10,368 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Meridian Community College earn a median of $31,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #10 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $34,214. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Mississippi Community College earned the #11 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Northwest Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Senatobia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,740. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,990 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $36,303. Set against $9,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jones County Junior College landed the #12 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the town of Ellisville, Jones County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,700. Students borrow a median of $9,559 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Jones County Junior College generally make around $33,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
