[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment 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 Illinois Valley Community College this year. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Danville Area Community College, which ranked #2. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $9,470 median debt.
Kankakee Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, compared with $25,830 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. That is a strong return on a $13,289 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Elgin Community College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Prairie State College earned it the #5 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,663. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $37,500. That is a strong return on a $15,663 median debt.
College Of Dupage placed #6 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,492. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County landed the #7 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $50,314. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spoon River College landed the #8 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the rural area of Canton, Spoon River College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,090, compared with $13,500 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,386 ten years after entry.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $31,692 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rend Lake College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,500, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $8,688. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,770. Set against $8,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sauk Valley Community College landed the #11 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the rural area of Dixon, Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,900 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earned the #12 position 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. In-state tuition and fees average $5,260, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Heartland Community College earned the #13 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $13,110. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. That is a strong return on a $13,266 median debt.
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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 · 13 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.
