2027 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
[Machine Shop Technology/Assistant](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-shop-technology-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong machine shop technology/assistant education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 113 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant School for You
The right machine shop technology/assistant school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2027 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine shop technology/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
Leading the list is West Georgia Technical College, our #1 best value for machine shop technology/assistant in the United States. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $8,000. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $39,922. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in machine shop technology/assistant will find it at South Georgia Technical College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,992, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine shop technology/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Coastal Pines Technical College one of the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, while out-of-state students pay about $5,836. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $43,040. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine shop technology/assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $9,413. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $49,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Regional Technical College landed the #7 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $9,086. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $44,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College earned the #8 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. In-state tuition and fees average $1,282, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $8,575. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $36,525. That is a strong return on a $8,575 median debt.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg earned the #9 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Parkersburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,476, with out-of-state students paying around $9,424. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,595 in student loans. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $45,400. Set against $15,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned the #10 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $10,864. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $40,452. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Shoals Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muscle Shoals. Students from in state pay about $5,131 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,001. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $13,312. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Northwest Shoals Community College earn a median of $33,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #12 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Albemarle came in at #13 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Elizabeth City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,242, while out-of-state students pay about $7,652. Students borrow a median of $10,240 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of College Of The Albemarle earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. Set against $10,240 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #14 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,166 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,941 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hazard Community And Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $12,212. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Hazard Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,626 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus Technical College placed #16 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,052, while out-of-state students pay about $7,262. Students borrow a median of $15,845 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $37,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Somerset Community College placed #17 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $8,439. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $41,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta College came in at #18 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $14,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $37,342. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Georgia Technical College placed #19 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,330, with out-of-state students paying around $5,898. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,279 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of North Georgia Technical College earn a median of $45,472 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,279 median debt.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #20 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $36,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #21 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Gateway Community And Technical College generally make around $42,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College placed #22 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,475 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $45,366. That is a strong return on a $7,475 median debt.
Rich Mountain Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Located in the town of Mena, Rich Mountain Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,696, compared with $4,272 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Rich Mountain Community College earn a median of $21,186 early in their careers.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #24 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from West Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $35,603. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
St Philips College placed #25 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $15,653. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $45,185. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for machine shop technology/assistant this year:
Narrow Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 113 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 113 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.
