2027 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools in the Southeast Region
[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 67 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools.
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2027 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools in the Southeast Region
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
West Georgia Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among machine shop technology/assistant schools in the Southeast Region. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Georgia Technical College earned it the #2 place for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Pines Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine shop technology/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,268, while out-of-state students pay about $5,836. Students borrow a median of $5,812 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $43,040. That is a strong return on a $5,812 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in machine shop technology/assistant will find it at Southern Regional Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $44,007. 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 Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, 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. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. 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. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,413 in student loans. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $49,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #7 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,480 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $10,864. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,452 early in their careers. Set against $10,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg landed the #8 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,476, while out-of-state students pay about $9,424. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $15,595. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn a median of $45,400 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Shoals Community College placed #9 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the city of Muscle Shoals, Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,131, 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. Set against $13,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #10 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $9,616. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Albemarle earned the #11 position for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Set in the town of Elizabeth City, College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,242, compared with $7,652 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,240 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from College Of The Albemarle generally make around $50,506. That is a strong return on a $10,240 median debt.
Hazard Community And Technical College came in at #12 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,212 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. Set against $12,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. 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, compared with $7,262 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,845 in student loans. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Columbus Technical College earn a median of $37,936 early in their careers. Set against $15,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Somerset Community College landed the #14 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. 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. That is a strong return on a $8,439 median debt.
North Georgia Technical College came in at #15 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. 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.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elizabethtown. 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 $7,166. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $50,941. Set against $7,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lenoir Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,578 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,822. Typical student debt for machine shop technology/assistant graduates is $9,984. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Lenoir Community College generally make around $38,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #18 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,687 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $30,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rich Mountain Community College placed #19 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Set in the town of Mena, Rich Mountain Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,696, while out-of-state students pay about $4,272. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Rich Mountain Community College generally make around $21,186.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value machine shop technology/assistant schools. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $35,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Manatee Technical College landed the #21 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students borrow a median of $9,726 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Early-career machine shop technology/assistant graduates make about $41,602. Set against $9,726 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henderson Community College landed the #22 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the rural area of Henderson, Henderson Community 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 $13,528 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Henderson Community College generally make around $40,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashland Community And Technical College placed #23 among the best values for machine shop technology/assistant. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $36,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #24 for value in machine shop technology/assistant this year. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates carry a median of $9,820 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine shop technology/assistant degree recipients from Maysville Community And Technical College generally make around $36,394. That is a strong return on a $9,820 median debt.
Richmond Community College landed the #25 spot for machine shop technology/assistant value this year. Set in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,956 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,407 to complete the machine shop technology/assistant program here. Machine Shop Technology/assistant graduates of Richmond Community College earn a median of $31,268 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools
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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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 67 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.
