
[Precision Metal Working](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong precision metal working education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 81 schools to build this 2026 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.
Williamson College Of The Trades earned the #1 spot for value among precision metal working schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Media. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,611. The acceptance rate is 22%.
A rank of #2 makes Westmoreland County Community College one of the best values for precision metal working. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erie Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $12,580. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $37,069. That is a strong return on a $12,580 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Niagara County Community College earned it the #4 place for precision metal working. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. Students from in state pay about $6,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $13,970 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. Set against $13,970 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,050. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $12,000. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $52,298. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology admits about 71% of applicants.
Community College Of Allegheny County placed #6 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $47,420. That is a strong return on a $15,263 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College placed #7 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Students borrow a median of $11,900 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $38,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Luzerne County Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,600 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,260 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $14,614 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $44,353. Set against $14,614 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Castle School Of Trades placed #9 among the best values for precision metal working. New Castle School Of Trades is a small private for-profit school located in the town of New Castle. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $9,655. Precision Metal Working graduates of New Castle School Of Trades earn a median of $36,663 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #10 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,975, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $20,867 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $41,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #11 among the best values for precision metal working. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,892, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $42,739. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education landed the #12 spot for precision metal working value this year. York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education is a small public school located in the suburb of York. Students borrow a median of $14,894 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $47,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laurel Technical Institute earned the #13 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the rural area of Hermitage, Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,431. Students borrow a median of $14,143 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $39,287. That is a strong return on a $14,143 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Erie 1 Boces came in at #14 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the suburb of West Seneca, Erie 1 Boces is a small public university. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $11,600 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $30,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rosedale Technical Institute placed #15 among the best values for precision metal working. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, Rosedale Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,402. Students borrow a median of $11,113 to complete the precision metal working program here. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $32,034. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earned the #16 position for value in precision metal working this year. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. Students from in state pay about $8,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,762. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earn a median of $39,059 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Laurel Business Institute came in at #17 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the town of Uniontown, Laurel Business Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,713 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $13,918. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $34,180. Set against $13,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
North American Trade Schools placed #18 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, North American Trade Schools is a small private for-profit university. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $8,549 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of North American Trade Schools earn a median of $35,239 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,549 median debt.
Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center earned the #19 position for value in precision metal working this year. Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center is a small public school located in the city of Altoona. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $17,867. Precision Metal Working graduates of Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center earn a median of $47,891 early in their careers. Set against $17,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson College landed the #20 spot for precision metal working value this year. Johnson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,225. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $16,083. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Johnson College generally make around $37,243. Set against $16,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johnson College admits about 98% of applicants.
Lancaster County Career And Technology Center placed #21 among the best values for precision metal working. Lancaster County Career And Technology Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Willow Street. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Lancaster County Career And Technology Center earn a median of $46,331 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces landed the #22 spot for precision metal working value this year. Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces is a small public school located in the suburb of Liverpool. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $8,326 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces earn a median of $39,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,326 median debt.
Commonwealth Technical Institute came in at #23 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the suburb of Johnstown, Commonwealth Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,714. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $20,049.
Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center placed #24 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the rural area of Johnstown, Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $17,690. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center generally make around $27,897. That is a strong return on a $17,690 median debt.
Apex Technical School earned the #25 position for value in precision metal working this year. Apex Technical School is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Long Island City. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $30,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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), 2026 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 · 81 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.