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 Hutchinson Community College this year. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $18,148. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $42,285 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,148 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Seward County Community College And Area Technical School one of the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,408. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $9,175 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earn a median of $53,375 early in their careers. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in machine tool technology/machinist will find it at Central Community College, which ranked #3. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $39,409 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salina Area Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #4 spot this year. Salina Area Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Salina. Students from in state pay about $7,128 in tuition and fees. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Salina Area Technical College generally make around $38,440. Set against $17,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coffeyville Community College earned it the #5 place for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the town of Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,680. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $12,838. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Coffeyville Community College generally make around $45,342. That is a strong return on a $12,838 median debt.
Marshalltown Community College landed the #6 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marshalltown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,496, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $11,577. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $45,972. That is a strong return on a $11,577 median debt.
Cowley County Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,600. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $9,312. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $34,099. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian Hills Community College earned the #8 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ottumwa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,390. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Indian Hills Community College earn a median of $49,626 early in their careers. Set against $15,390 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area earned the #9 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $11,650 in student loans. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $49,114. Set against $11,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Students borrow a median of $4,737 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $36,757. That is a strong return on a $4,737 median debt.
Northeast Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $38,353. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverland Community College placed #12 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $15,732. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $49,194. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Jefferson College placed #13 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $13,664. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $47,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wichita Area Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wichita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,237. Students borrow a median of $5,564 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $30,515. Set against $5,564 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Central Community College placed #15 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $16,135. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College generally make around $39,624. Set against $16,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Dakota State College Of Science landed the #16 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Set in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,974, compared with $6,973 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $51,647. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned the #17 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. Students borrow a median of $5,479 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $39,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $39,397. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Cloud Technical And Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $9,500. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $48,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College earned the #20 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $43,009. That is a strong return on a $13,946 median debt.
Anoka Technical College landed the #21 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Anoka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,267. Students borrow a median of $8,692 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Anoka Technical College earn a median of $50,690 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Lakes College Brainerd landed the #22 spot for machine tool technology/machinist value this year. Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brainerd. In-state tuition and fees average $6,249. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Central Lakes College Brainerd earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
East Central College earned the #23 position for value in machine tool technology/machinist this year. Set in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, with out-of-state students paying around $7,680. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete the machine tool technology/machinist program here. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from East Central College generally make around $37,925. That is a strong return on a $12,062 median debt.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #24 among the best values for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $6,642. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $39,720. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn State Technical College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value machine tool technology/machinist schools. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,160, with out-of-state students paying around $14,610. Typical student debt for machine tool technology/machinist graduates is $11,474. Early-career machine tool technology/machinist graduates make about $47,325. That is a strong return on a $11,474 median debt.
These schools also delivered strong value for machine tool technology/machinist this year:
Narrow Machine Tool Technology/Machinist Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong machine tool technology/machinist education at a price that pays off.
