[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 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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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in machine tool technology/machinist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Spartanburg Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools in South Carolina. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,071 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,135. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $10,148. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $38,147. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Florence Darlington Technical College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. Students from in state pay about $4,636 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Florence Darlington Technical College generally make around $34,948. Set against $7,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $50,166. 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 Horry Georgetown Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,518 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $5,875. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $33,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $47,556 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aiken Technical College placed #6 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,174, while out-of-state students pay about $7,924. Students borrow a median of $17,884 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Aiken Technical College earn a median of $51,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,884 median debt.
Central Carolina Technical College earned the #7 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,715 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,016 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $32,196. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. York Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. 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. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of York Technical College earn a median of $50,309 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College placed #9 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, 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.
Northeastern Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the rural area of Cheraw, Northeastern Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $6,024. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $18,933. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Northeastern Technical College earn a median of $57,772 early in their careers. Set against $18,933 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Piedmont Technical College landed the #11 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Students from in state pay about $4,775 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $11,625 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $34,928. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenville Technical College earned the #12 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,495, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,279 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Greenville Technical College generally make around $34,761. That is a strong return on a $10,279 median debt.
Tri County Technical College came in at #13 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,448, compared with $12,007 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,787. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $43,438. That is a strong return on a $15,787 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
