Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in precision metal working, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Cerritos College, our #1 best value for precision metal working in the Far Western Region. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mt San Antonio College earned it the #2 place for precision metal working. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reedley College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 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. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $10,288. Precision Metal Working graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Clover Park Technical College placed #7 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,634. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $42,209. Set against $15,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $45,864. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Redwoods ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Eureka. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,196, compared with $8,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $20,000. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $98,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Imperial Valley College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Students borrow a median of $6,176 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $42,617. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
Bates Technical College came in at #11 for value in precision metal working this year. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. In-state tuition and fees average $6,027, with out-of-state students paying around $12,165. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,051.
Butte College came in at #12 for value in precision metal working this year. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. Students from in state pay about $1,356 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College earned the #13 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Yuba College came in at #14 for value in precision metal working this year. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. Students from in state pay about $1,128 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Students borrow a median of $8,729 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Yuba College generally make around $89,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College came in at #15 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,197, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $12,275. Precision Metal Working graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chabot College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $8,686. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $14,122. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $85,175. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
Grays Harbor College came in at #17 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the rural area of Aberdeen, Grays Harbor College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,593, compared with $12,553 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $12,524. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Grays Harbor College generally make around $46,018. That is a strong return on a $12,524 median debt.
Riverside City College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $8,767. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $37,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Merced College placed #19 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $9,024. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Merced College generally make around $27,541. Set against $9,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,425, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $37,755. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Renton Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $7,768. Students borrow a median of $18,582 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Renton Technical College generally make around $80,411. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
De Anza College earned the #22 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,571, with out-of-state students paying around $12,596. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the precision metal working program here. Median earnings reach $56,596 ten years out. Set against $7,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Peninsula College landed the #23 spot for precision metal working value this year. Peninsula College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Port Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,718, compared with $5,270 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $12,730 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Peninsula College generally make around $51,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange Coast College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $8,978. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College landed the #25 spot for precision metal working value this year. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $12,733. Precision Metal Working graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,733 median debt.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in precision metal working:
Narrow Precision Metal Working Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 133 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
[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.
