[Machine Tool Technology/Machinist](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/machine-tool-technology-machinist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong machine tool technology/machinist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools.
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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.
Leading the list is Illinois Valley Community College, our #1 best value for machine tool technology/machinist in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $8,099. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $33,224. 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 Macomb Community College, which ranked #2. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #3 spot this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #4 spot this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $13,289. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spoon River College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #5 spot this year. Spoon River College is a small public school located in the rural area of Canton. In-state tuition and fees average $6,090, with out-of-state students paying around $13,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,386.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #7 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,599. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $49,030. That is a strong return on a $6,599 median debt.
Danville Area Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,440, with out-of-state students paying around $7,440. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,470 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $36,123. Set against $9,470 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College earned the #9 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Lansing Community College came in at #10 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. Students from in state pay about $4,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Set against $16,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage landed the #11 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,492. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
College Of Lake County placed #12 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $9,785. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College came in at #13 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,865. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $42,282 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sauk Valley Community College came in at #15 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dixon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,340, while out-of-state students pay about $12,900. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $12,811 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $48,855. Set against $12,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #16 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $4,540 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $42,066. That is a strong return on a $4,540 median debt.
Kirtland Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Kirtland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Grayling. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $17,333. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Kirtland Community College generally make around $50,469. Set against $17,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $9,500. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Park Technical College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $41,073 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rend Lake College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,688 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,770. Set against $8,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lakeshore Technical College earned the #21 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,582 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $48,619 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College landed the #22 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $5,250 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $47,718. That is a strong return on a $5,250 median debt.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College came in at #23 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public school located in the town of Olney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,260, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $30,893. Set against $9,434 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $31,692. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mid State Technical College landed the #25 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $4,750 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $38,653. That is a strong return on a $4,750 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 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.
