[Precision Metal Working](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment 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 Western Dakota Technical Institute, our #1 best value for precision metal working in South Dakota. Western Dakota Technical Institute is a small public school located in the city of Rapid City. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $10,563. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Western Dakota Technical Institute generally make around $41,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,718. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $11,001. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $43,436. Set against $11,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at Southeast Technical Institute, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,650 in tuition and fees. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $18,442 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Southeast Technical Institute earn a median of $48,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,442 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
