[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 67 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.
East Mississippi Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools in the Southeast Region. East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Scooba. Students from in state pay about $4,095 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,445. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from East Mississippi Community College generally make around $35,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florence Darlington Technical College earned it the #2 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,636, while out-of-state students pay about $6,772. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $7,230. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Florence Darlington Technical College earn a median of $34,948 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 Hinds Community College, which ranked #3. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $22,434 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Conway. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,875 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $33,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Copiah Lincoln Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #5 spot this year. Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wesson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, with out-of-state students paying around $5,200. Median earnings reach $31,241 ten years out.
Trident Technical College landed the #6 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Georgia Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,330, while out-of-state students pay about $5,898. Students borrow a median of $12,279 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from North Georgia Technical College generally make around $34,133. Set against $12,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mid South Community College landed the #8 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the suburb of West Memphis, Mid South Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,126, with out-of-state students paying around $4,824. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,857.
Pearl River Community College landed the #9 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the rural area of Poplarville, Pearl River Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,700 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,100. Students borrow a median of $13,482 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $34,785. Set against $13,482 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
York Technical College placed #10 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,036 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,340 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $11,250. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from York Technical College generally make around $50,309. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt.
Mississippi Delta Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the rural area of Moorhead, Mississippi Delta Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540. Students borrow a median of $13,819 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Mississippi Delta Community College generally make around $42,854. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Itawamba Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Itawamba Community College generally make around $35,061. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Technical College placed #13 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,715, compared with $9,016 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $32,196. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Midlands Technical College landed the #14 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $47,556. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tri County Technical College came in at #15 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,007. Students borrow a median of $15,787 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Tri County Technical College earn a median of $43,438 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Black River Technical College came in at #16 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the town of Pocahontas, Black River Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,776, with out-of-state students paying around $7,488. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,420. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Black River Technical College earn a median of $41,888 early in their careers. Set against $12,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
East Central Community College landed the #17 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the rural area of Decatur, East Central Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,990, compared with $6,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $32,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Holmes Community College came in at #18 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,710 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,610 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $13,191. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $32,145 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spartanburg Community College earned the #19 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $10,148. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $38,147 early in their careers. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville earned the #20 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the rural area of Hartsville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $5,846 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville earn a median of $36,283 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenville Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,495, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,279 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $34,761. That is a strong return on a $10,279 median debt.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College landed the #22 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,354. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $18,583. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College earn a median of $61,814 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,583 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens earned the #23 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the town of Athens, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,925 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens generally make around $35,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Meridian Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the town of Meridian, Meridian Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,078, while out-of-state students pay about $6,478. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,368 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Meridian Community College earn a median of $31,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mckenzie came in at #25 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the rural area of McKenzie, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mckenzie is a small public university. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mckenzie earn a median of $33,649 early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s machine tool technology/machinist value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
