[Precision Metal Working](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for precision metal working students.
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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.
Washtenaw Community College earned the #1 spot for value among precision metal working schools in Michigan. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. 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. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $15,525. Precision Metal Working graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lansing Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alpena Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alpena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,840, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $45,132. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $34,112. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College earned the #6 position for value in precision metal working this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $15,865. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $43,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Muskegon Community College landed the #7 spot for precision metal working value this year. Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muskegon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $14,928 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $48,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kellogg Community College came in at #8 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,118, compared with $8,282 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $20,432 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of $32,616 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schoolcraft College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. In-state tuition and fees average $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $15,677. Precision Metal Working graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $46,283 early in their careers. Set against $15,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College came in at #10 for value in precision metal working this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $9,862. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $38,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College earned the #11 position for value in precision metal working this year. Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Jackson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
Southwestern Michigan College placed #12 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the rural area of Dowagiac, Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,417 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,394. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $16,575. Precision Metal Working graduates of Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of $43,153 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,575 median debt.
Wayne County Community College District placed #13 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,112, with out-of-state students paying around $4,067. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $48,892. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
Bay De Noc Community College landed the #14 spot for precision metal working value this year. Located in the town of Escanaba, Bay De Noc Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214, while out-of-state students pay about $11,453. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Bay De Noc Community College earn a median of $39,075 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirtland Community College earned the #15 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the rural area of Grayling, Kirtland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,190, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Students borrow a median of $17,333 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Kirtland Community College earn a median of $50,469 early in their careers. Set against $17,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mid Michigan Community College placed #16 among the best values for precision metal working. Mid Michigan Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Harrison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,132, with out-of-state students paying around $10,864. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $18,878. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Mid Michigan Community College generally make around $43,078. That is a strong return on a $18,878 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College earned the #17 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $4,540 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $42,066. That is a strong return on a $4,540 median debt.
Michigan Career And Technical Institute placed #18 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the rural area of Plainwell, Michigan Career And Technical Institute is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,548, with out-of-state students paying around $12,408. Precision Metal Working graduates of Michigan Career And Technical Institute earn a median of $19,164 early in their careers.
Ferris State University earned the #19 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $19,633. Precision Metal Working graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $62,832 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,633 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Northern Michigan University came in at #20 for value in precision metal working this year. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,608 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $40,508. Set against $22,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Miat College Of Technology earned the #21 position for value in precision metal working this year. Miat College Of Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,165. Students borrow a median of $11,790 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Miat College Of Technology earn a median of $33,636 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,790 median debt.
More Precision Metal Working Rankings
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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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
