[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 42 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value precision metal working schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the precision metal working degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Joliet Junior College the best value for a degree in precision metal working in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Illinois Valley Community College one of the best values for precision metal working. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #3 place for precision metal working. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $27,808. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $37,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Moraine Valley Community College one of the best values for precision metal working. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $11,149. Precision Metal Working graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spoon River College landed the #6 spot for precision metal working value this year. Located in the rural area of Canton, Spoon River College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,090, compared with $13,500 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,386 ten years after entry.
Richland Community College placed #7 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,680, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Richland Community College generally make around $46,233. That is a strong return on a $9,562 median debt.
Carl Sandburg College earned the #8 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,390, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $8,604 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Carl Sandburg College generally make around $48,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #9 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $11,272 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $33,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
South Suburban College came in at #10 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the suburb of South Holland, South Suburban College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,093 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,683. Students borrow a median of $7,904 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of South Suburban College earn a median of $42,425 early in their careers. Set against $7,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College came in at #11 for value in precision metal working this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $12,994. Precision Metal Working graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College landed the #12 spot for precision metal working value this year. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shawnee Community College landed the #13 spot for precision metal working value this year. Shawnee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ullin. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Students borrow a median of $11,162 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $39,601. Set against $11,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rock Valley College placed #14 among the best values for precision metal working. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,379. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $9,236. Precision Metal Working graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $41,080 early in their careers. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Danville Area Community College earned the #15 position for value in precision metal working this year. Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,440, with out-of-state students paying around $7,440. Students borrow a median of $9,470 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Danville Area Community College earn a median of $36,123 early in their careers. Set against $9,470 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Highland Community College Freeport came in at #16 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,936, compared with $7,360 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $13,783 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Highland Community College Freeport generally make around $46,384. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College came in at #17 for value in precision metal working this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Morton College earned the #18 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the suburb of Cicero, Morton College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,884, compared with $11,028 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $7,734 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Morton College earn a median of $36,121 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,734 median debt.
John A Logan College landed the #19 spot for precision metal working value this year. John A Logan College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Carterville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, compared with $7,540 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $10,479 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $40,806. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kaskaskia College earned the #20 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $7,875. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $45,658. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College came in at #21 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $8,093. Precision Metal Working graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $33,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
Black Hawk College landed the #22 spot for precision metal working value this year. Set in the city of Moline, Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,100. Students borrow a median of $11,340 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $44,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mchenry County College came in at #23 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County came in at #24 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $50,314. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
College Of Dupage placed #25 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in precision metal working:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
