[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 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.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #1 spot for value among machine tool technology/machinist schools in New Mexico. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Fe Community College earned it the #2 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. In-state tuition and fees average $1,851, compared with $4,131 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,267. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Santa Fe Community College generally make around $51,935. 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. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 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.
