DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 48.05), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Welding)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Welding)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall machine tool technology/machinist education in Illinois.
Leading the list is Heartland Community College, our #1 school for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 25 machine tool technology/machinist students who graduated with this degree at Heartland Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the machine tool technology/machinist program make about $48,710 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,266.
Read more about the machine tool technology/machinist program at Heartland Community College
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best machine tool technology/machinist schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Belleville. About 28 machine tool technology/machinist degrees were awarded at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $31,692 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500.
More information about a degree in machine tool technology/machinist from Southwestern Illinois College
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.
- 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.
ADBLOCK #116
