2027 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Associate’s Degree Schools
[Machine Shop Technology/Assistant](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-shop-technology-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for machine shop technology/assistant students.
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2027 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the machine shop technology/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
Central Piedmont Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools in the United States. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,149 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Modesto Junior College one of the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $36,525. That is a strong return on a $8,575 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in machine shop technology/assistant will find it at Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College, which ranked #3. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,413 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,761 early in their careers. Set against $9,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Elizabethtown Community And Technical College one of the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elizabethtown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,166 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College generally make around $48,709. Set against $7,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Delta College one of the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $14,075. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Delta College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Westmoreland County Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, compared with $14,728 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
St Philips College earned the #7 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $15,653. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community And Technical College came in at #8 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $9,041. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Gateway Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,233 early in their careers. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College placed #9 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $10,022. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $27,696. That is a strong return on a $10,022 median debt.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock landed the #10 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,804. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $16,252. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $42,443. That is a strong return on a $16,252 median debt.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #11 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #12 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $6,810 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $56,292 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alamance Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Alamance Community College generally make around $37,585. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $10,684. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $46,133 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #15 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Students borrow a median of $4,737 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $36,644. That is a strong return on a $4,737 median debt.
Lower Columbia College came in at #16 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Lower Columbia College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Longview. In-state tuition and fees average $4,626, while out-of-state students pay about $6,003. Students borrow a median of $14,340 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Lower Columbia College generally make around $53,280. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lanier Technical College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,980, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $12,278. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $37,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #18 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Students borrow a median of $12,868 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $43,989. That is a strong return on a $12,868 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #19 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,851. Students borrow a median of $11,900 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $38,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chemeketa Community College earned the #20 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Chemeketa Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,040 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College generally make around $45,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grand Rapids Community College landed the #21 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $4,540 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $50,089. Set against $4,540 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #22 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $9,500. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Denver came in at #23 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Community College Of Denver is a large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $45,202. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Eastern Arizona College landed the #24 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,552. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $6,781 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,781 median debt.
Portland Community College placed #25 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, compared with $10,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $20,648. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of $49,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 36 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s machine shop technology/assistant value ranking:
Other Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant rankings across degree levels:
View All Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 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.
