[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for machine tool technology/machinist students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine tool technology/machinist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Hutchinson Community College the best value for a degree in machine tool technology/machinist in Kansas. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $18,148. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $42,285 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Coffeyville Community College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Coffeyville Community College is a small public school located in the town of Coffeyville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, compared with $4,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,838. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $45,342. That is a strong return on a $12,838 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, with out-of-state students paying around $5,408. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $9,175. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School generally make around $53,375. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Cowley County Community College, which ranked #4. Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkansas City. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Cowley County Community College generally make around $34,099. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salina Area Technical College earned it the #5 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,128. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Salina Area Technical College generally make around $38,440. Set against $17,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita Area Technical College earned the #6 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,237. Students borrow a median of $5,564 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $30,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,564 median debt.
Washburn Institute Of Technology came in at #7 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Topeka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,880. Students borrow a median of $6,642 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Washburn Institute Of Technology earn a median of $39,720 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kansas City Kansas Community College placed #8 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,996, compared with $6,482 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,129 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $43,216. 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 · 8 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.
