[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong machine tool technology/machinist education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for machine tool technology/machinist students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the machine tool technology/machinist degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in machine tool technology/machinist, no school beat Mt Hood Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, compared with $9,819 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,767 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $53,948. Set against $18,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Clackamas Community College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,345, compared with $14,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $13,915. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Clackamas Community College earn a median of $31,280 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Portland Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Students borrow a median of $20,648 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $49,580. That is a strong return on a $20,648 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Linn Benton Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Albany, Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,317, with out-of-state students paying around $16,736. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $17,959. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Linn Benton Community College generally make around $42,085. That is a strong return on a $17,959 median debt.
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
