[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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.
Leading the list is South Texas College, our #1 best value for machine tool technology/machinist in Texas. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $30,227. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Del Mar College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #3. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $8,542. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Amarillo College one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $48,263. 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 St Philips College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from St Philips College generally make around $45,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brazosport College placed #6 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,388, compared with $4,711 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $32,746. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Grayson College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $42,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ranger College earned the #8 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the rural area of Ranger, Ranger College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,766 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,066 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,749. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Ranger College generally make around $35,756. Set against $12,749 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College came in at #9 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College placed #10 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from North Central Texas College generally make around $43,536. That is a strong return on a $15,965 median debt.
Lee College placed #11 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $53,448. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hill College came in at #12 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,862. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $39,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Angelina College came in at #13 for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Angelina College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Lufkin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,430, compared with $6,490 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $7,828 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $50,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas State Technical College earned the #14 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $8,905 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Texas State Technical College earn a median of $37,477 early in their careers. Set against $8,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
