[Metal Fabricator](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/metal-fabricator/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for metal fabricator students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the metal fabricator degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Pima Community College the best value for a degree in metal fabricator in the United States. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. 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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in metal fabricator, landing the #2 spot this year. State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,328 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Soon after graduation, metal fabricator degree recipients from State Fair Community College generally make around $39,168. Set against $15,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in metal fabricator will find it at Grand Rapids Community College, which ranked #3. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,219. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $4,540. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $50,089. That is a strong return on a $4,540 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $11,900 in student loans. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $38,373. 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. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. 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.
Eastern Arizona College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value metal fabricator schools. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,352, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Metal Fabricator graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,781 median debt.
Everett Community College earned the #7 position for value in metal fabricator this year. Set in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,032, while out-of-state students pay about $11,171. Metal Fabricator graduates carry a median of $13,542 in student loans. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $47,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #8 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $43,380. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #9 position 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $7,664. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $52,449. That is a strong return on a $7,664 median debt.
Helena College University Of Montana placed #10 among the best values for metal fabricator. Set in the city of Helena, Helena College University Of Montana is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,106, compared with $11,278 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $19,906. Early-career metal fabricator graduates make about $47,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology landed the #11 spot for metal fabricator value this year. Set in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,050. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the metal fabricator program here. Metal Fabricator graduates of Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earn a median of $52,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned the #12 position for value in metal fabricator this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Typical student debt for metal fabricator graduates is $14,750. Metal Fabricator graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of $50,402 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
Explore the best-value metal fabricator schools at other degree levels:
View All Metal Fabricator Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
