[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 25 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.
Our analysis ranked South Texas College the best value for a degree in machine tool technology/machinist in the Southwest Region. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Brazosport College came in at #2 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. In-state tuition and fees average $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,625. 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.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Pima Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $41,132. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,440. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,162. Set against $6,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #5 spot this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community College Central City earned the #6 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Central City is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $15,037 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Gateway Community College Central City generally make around $45,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #7 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Philips College landed the #8 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,653. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $45,185. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Amarillo College landed the #9 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $48,263. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
Grayson College placed #10 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ranger College came in at #11 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Ranger College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ranger. In-state tuition and fees average $2,766, with out-of-state students paying around $9,066. Students borrow a median of $12,749 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Ranger College earn a median of $35,756 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,749 median debt.
North Central Texas College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $43,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hill College earned the #13 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,862. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Hill College earn a median of $39,212 early in their careers. Set against $12,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center came in at #14 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $14,859. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Francis Tuttle Technology Center generally make around $26,570. Set against $14,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian Capital Technology Center Muskogee came in at #15 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Indian Capital Technology Center Muskogee is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Muskogee. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Indian Capital Technology Center Muskogee earn a median of $23,518 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College placed #16 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $10,941. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester came in at #17 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the town of McAlester, Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $7,992 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester generally make around $23,377. Set against $7,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Angelina College earned the #18 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,430, compared with $6,490 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $7,828 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $50,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Technology Center System Office ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the town of Pryor, Northeast Technology Center System Office is a small public university. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Northeast Technology Center System Office earn a median of $29,365 early in their careers.
Santa Fe Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,851, compared with $4,131 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,267 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Santa Fe Community College earn a median of $51,935 early in their careers. Set against $15,267 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Canadian Valley Technology Center placed #22 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Canadian Valley Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of El Reno. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Canadian Valley Technology Center generally make around $46,777.
Texas State Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $8,905 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $37,477. Set against $8,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
