Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine tool technology/machinist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Cerritos College the best value for a degree in machine tool technology/machinist in the Far Western Region. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $11,306. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Reedley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,500. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clover Park Technical College earned it the #3 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. Set against $15,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #4 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $45,864. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Bates Technical College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Median earnings reach $50,051 ten years out.
College Of The Redwoods came in at #6 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,196, compared with $8,852 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from College Of The Redwoods generally make around $98,703. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt.
Pasadena City College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College placed #8 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chabot College landed the #9 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $14,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
De Anza College landed the #10 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,571, compared with $12,596 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $7,271. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,596. That is a strong return on a $7,271 median debt.
Renton Technical College earned the #11 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Renton Technical College earn a median of $80,411 early in their careers. Set against $18,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College earned the #12 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College came in at #13 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $46,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allan Hancock College landed the #14 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,786.
Bellingham Technical College earned the #15 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,431, compared with $5,809 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $49,748 ten years out.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #16 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $14,692. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Camino Community College District earned the #17 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, with out-of-state students paying around $7,630. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,589.
Palomar College earned the #18 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
Seattle Community College South Campus earned the #19 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,208, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Median earnings reach $44,486 ten years out.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #20 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology generally make around $60,000. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Truckee Meadows Community College earned the #21 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,290. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $52,785. That is a strong return on a $12,290 median debt.
Spokane Community College earned the #22 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $35,309. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Mt Hood Community College came in at #23 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, while out-of-state students pay about $9,819. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $18,767 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Mt Hood Community College earn a median of $53,948 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,767 median debt.
Lower Columbia College placed #24 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Longview, Lower Columbia College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,626 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,003. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $14,340. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Lower Columbia College earn a median of $53,280 early in their careers. Set against $14,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lassen Community College landed the #25 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Lassen Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Susanville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,144, compared with $9,280 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,994.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s machine tool technology/machinist value ranking:
Narrow Machine Tool Technology/Machinist Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 57 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.
[Machine Tool Technology/Machinist](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
