[Metal Fabricator](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/metal-fabricator/) 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 30 schools to find the best return on investment for metal fabricator students.
What’s on this page:
The metal fabricator program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Metal Fabricator Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Metal Fabricator Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the metal fabricator degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pima Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools in the United States. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $10,655. Metal Fabricator graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $41,132 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
State Fair Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $7,416. Students borrow a median of $15,328 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Metal Fabricator graduates of State Fair Community College earn a median of $39,168 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nicolet Area Technical College earned it the #3 place for metal fabricator. Located in the rural area of Rhinelander, Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,793 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,066. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $11,400 in student loans. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $46,419. Set against $11,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grand Rapids Community College earned it the #4 place for metal fabricator. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, with out-of-state students paying around $12,219. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $4,540 in student loans. Metal Fabricator graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $42,066 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Milwaukee Area Technical College earned it the #5 place for metal fabricator. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $9,500. Metal Fabricator graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #6 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Students borrow a median of $11,900 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $38,373. Set against $11,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Park Technical College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, with out-of-state students paying around $7,084. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $39,552. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
Tulsa Technology Center ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $28,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center landed the #9 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Located in the rural area of Fort Cobb, Caddo Kiowa Technology Center is a small public university. Graduates go on to earn a median of $21,576 ten years after entry.
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #10 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Located in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $8,125 in student loans. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $42,412. That is a strong return on a $8,125 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #11 for value in metal fabricator this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,960 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $5,500. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $41,421. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Arizona College placed #12 among the best values for metal fabricator. Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thatcher. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,552 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $6,781. Metal Fabricator graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. Set against $6,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lakeshore Technical College landed the #13 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Students borrow a median of $11,582 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Metal Fabricator graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Automeca Technical College Ponce earned the #14 position for value in metal fabricator this year. Set in the city of Ponce, Automeca Technical College Ponce is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,095. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $3,500 in student loans. Metal Fabricator graduates of Automeca Technical College Ponce earn a median of $14,428 early in their careers. Set against $3,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Gorge Community College placed #15 among the best values for metal fabricator. Located in the town of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,260. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $17,416 in student loans. Metal Fabricator graduates of Columbia Gorge Community College earn a median of $78,167 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,416 median debt.
Automeca Technical College Bayamon ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. Located in the city of Bayamon, Automeca Technical College Bayamon is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,095 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $3,500 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $14,428. Set against $3,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Automeca Technical College Aguadilla landed the #17 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Located in the suburb of Aguadilla, Automeca Technical College Aguadilla is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,095 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $3,500. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $14,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid State Technical College landed the #18 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $4,750 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from Mid State Technical College generally make around $38,653. That is a strong return on a $4,750 median debt.
Automeca Technical College Caguas earned the #19 position for value in metal fabricator this year. Automeca Technical College Caguas is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Caguas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,095. Students borrow a median of $3,500 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from Automeca Technical College Caguas generally make around $14,428. That is a strong return on a $3,500 median debt.
Everett Community College earned the #20 position for value in metal fabricator this year. Set in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,171. Students borrow a median of $13,542 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from Everett Community College generally make around $47,441. That is a strong return on a $13,542 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $43,380. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #22 for value in metal fabricator this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $7,664 in student loans. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $52,978. That is a strong return on a $7,664 median debt.
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus placed #23 among the best values for metal fabricator. Located in the suburb of Orlando, Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus is a mid-sized public university. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus generally make around $37,013.
Atlantic Technical College placed #24 among the best values for metal fabricator. Atlantic Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Coconut Creek. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $9,222 in student loans. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $33,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $8,109 in student loans. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $48,638. That is a strong return on a $8,109 median debt.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in metal fabricator:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.
