by our College Data Analytics Team
[Precision Metal Working](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong precision metal working education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 173 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value precision metal working schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in precision metal working, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Williamson College Of The Trades, our #1 best value for precision metal working in the United States. Located in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,611. Williamson College Of The Trades admits about 22% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at Spartanburg Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Spartanburg Community College generally make around $38,147. That is a strong return on a $10,148 median debt.
Johnston Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,756, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $34,171. That is a strong return on a $9,490 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Ventura College one of the best values for precision metal working. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Piedmont Community College earned it the #5 place for precision metal working. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,149 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College landed the #6 spot for precision metal working value this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $7,476. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $40,661. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Santa Ana College placed #7 among the best values for precision metal working. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $11,196. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $45,864. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Cerritos College landed the #8 spot for precision metal working value this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $11,306. Precision Metal Working graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College placed #9 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $17,616. Precision Metal Working graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $33,167. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Community College placed #11 among the best values for precision metal working. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $41,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College earned the #12 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $36,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College came in at #13 for value in precision metal working this year. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
East Mississippi Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,095 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,445 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $35,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons landed the #15 spot for precision metal working value this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #16 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $9,413 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,761 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College earned the #17 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $15,720. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $48,263. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College earned the #18 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Sampson Community College placed #19 among the best values for precision metal working. Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clinton. In-state tuition and fees average $2,877, while out-of-state students pay about $9,789. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Sampson Community College earn a median of $45,929 early in their careers. Set against $12,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Mississippi Community College earned the #20 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the rural area of Summit, Southwest Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,080, while out-of-state students pay about $6,780. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $21,057 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Southwest Mississippi Community College generally make around $50,292. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butte College landed the #21 spot for precision metal working value this year. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Set against $13,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College placed #22 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $6,440. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $42,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College came in at #23 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $47,556. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Delta College earned the #24 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Delta College earn a median of $34,112 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earned the #25 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $7,166. Precision Metal Working graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $48,709 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,166 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s precision metal working value ranking:
Explore the best-value precision metal working schools at other degree levels:
View All Precision Metal Working Rankings >The ranking above is published 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 · 173 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 173 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.