[Precision Metal Working](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong precision metal working education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 61 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for precision metal working students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the precision metal working degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Lorain County Community College, our #1 best value for precision metal working in Ohio. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in precision metal working, landing the #2 spot this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at Lakeland Community College, which ranked #3. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,872, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $19,857. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $51,941. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clark State Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $4,393, while out-of-state students pay about $8,049. Students borrow a median of $20,740 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of $39,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,740 median debt.
Owens Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in precision metal working, landing the #5 spot this year. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,870, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Auburn Career Center ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the suburb of Concord Twp, Auburn Career Center is a small public institution. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $10,807. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,032. That is a strong return on a $10,807 median debt.
Northwest State Community College earned the #7 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the rural area of Archbold, Northwest State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,698, with out-of-state students paying around $9,170. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $11,565. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $45,123. Set against $11,565 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hocking College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $16,535 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $37,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Great Oaks Career Campuses placed #9 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $6,078 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $41,277. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus earned the #10 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the rural area of Jefferson, Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $16,535 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $42,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Buckeye Joint Vocational School ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the rural area of New Philadelphia, Buckeye Joint Vocational School is a small public institution. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $25,844.
Polaris Career Center ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Polaris Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $6,365 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $32,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lorain County Joint Vocational School District earned the #13 position for value in precision metal working this year. Lorain County Joint Vocational School District is a small public school located in the rural area of Oberlin. Median earnings reach $35,776 ten years out.
Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools came in at #14 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the suburb of Groveport, Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $6,485 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools earn a median of $39,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,485 median debt.
Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology came in at #15 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the town of Troy, Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $45,370. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Portage Lakes Career Center earned the #16 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the suburb of Uniontown, Portage Lakes Career Center is a small public university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,316.
Eti Technical College landed the #17 spot for precision metal working value this year. Eti Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Niles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,060. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $12,255. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Eti Technical College generally make around $27,290. Set against $12,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Warren County Career Center landed the #18 spot for precision metal working value this year. Warren County Career Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Lebanon. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $8,679. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Warren County Career Center generally make around $38,389. That is a strong return on a $8,679 median debt.
Elite Welding Academy Llc ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Elite Welding Academy Llc is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Elite Welding Academy Llc generally make around $38,717.
Fortis College Cincinnati landed the #20 spot for precision metal working value this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Fortis College Cincinnati is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,763. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $31,899. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls earned the #21 position for value in precision metal working this year. Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cuyahoga Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $14,596. Students borrow a median of $20,894 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $39,990. Set against $20,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohio Technical College earned the #22 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Ohio Technical College is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $10,334. Precision Metal Working graduates of Ohio Technical College earn a median of $35,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Schools Career Center came in at #23 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the town of Smithville, Wayne County Schools Career Center is a small public university. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $9,496 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $42,438. That is a strong return on a $9,496 median debt.
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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 · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
