Machine Tool Technology/Machinist is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 55 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for machine tool technology/machinist students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall machine tool technology/machinist education in the Great Lakes Region.
Leading the list is Fox Valley Technical College, our #1 school for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 11 machine tool technology/machinist degrees in the most recent data year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $52,978 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,664.
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Students looking for a strong machine tool technology/machinist program will find one at Northcentral Technical College, which ranked #2. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Northcentral Technical College awarded about 13 machine tool technology/machinist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their machine tool technology/machinist degree from Northcentral Technical College earn around $47,718 in the first couple years of their career. Northcentral Technical College graduates carry a median of $5,250 in student loans.
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Ivy Tech Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, ranking #3. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 17 machine tool technology/machinist students who graduated with this degree at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $49,030 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,599 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Waukesha County Technical College one of the top schools for machine tool technology/machinist. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 20 machine tool technology/machinist students who graduated with this degree at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent data year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $43,380 early in their careers. Waukesha County Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
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Vincennes University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in machine tool technology/machinist, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Vincennes. The six-year graduation rate is 3%. About 21 machine tool technology/machinist degrees were awarded at Vincennes University in the most recent year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $54,908 early in their careers. Vincennes University graduates carry a median of $10,932 in student loans.
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Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #6 position for machine tool technology/machinist this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College awarded about 34 machine tool technology/machinist degrees in the most recent data year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $42,282 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best machine tool technology/machinist schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. About 26 machine tool technology/machinist degrees were awarded at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their machine tool technology/machinist degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College earn around $48,638 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,109 to complete this degree.
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Madison Area Technical College earned the #8 position for machine tool technology/machinist this year. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 22 machine tool technology/machinist degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $37,860 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
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Heartland Community College landed the #9 spot for machine tool technology/machinist this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Heartland Community College awarded about 25 machine tool technology/machinist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. Typical student debt for the program is $13,266.
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Mid State Technical College earned the #10 position for machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 18 machine tool technology/machinist students who graduated with this degree at Mid State Technical College in the most recent data year. Machine Tool Technology/machinist graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $38,653 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $4,750.
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Grand Rapids Community College earned the #11 position for machine tool technology/machinist this year. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. There were roughly 12 machine tool technology/machinist students who graduated with this degree at Grand Rapids Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their machine tool technology/machinist degree from Grand Rapids Community College earn around $42,066 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $4,540 to complete this degree.
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Southwestern Illinois College landed the #12 spot for machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. About 28 machine tool technology/machinist degrees were awarded at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $31,692. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500.
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Lansing Community College earned the #13 position for machine tool technology/machinist this year. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. Lansing Community College awarded about 15 machine tool technology/machinist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, machine tool technology/machinist degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete this degree.
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Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #14 position for machine tool technology/machinist this year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo Valley Community College awarded about 23 machine tool technology/machinist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their machine tool technology/machinist degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn around $44,198 in the first couple years of their career. Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
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Michigan Career And Technical Institute landed the #15 spot for machine tool technology/machinist this year. Michigan Career And Technical Institute is a small public school located in the rural area of Plainwell. About 18 machine tool technology/machinist degrees were awarded at Michigan Career And Technical Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the machine tool technology/machinist program make about $19,164 in their early career.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 55 schools evaluated.
- 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.