[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 69 schools to find the best return on investment for precision metal working students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the precision metal working degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in precision metal working, no school beat Del Mar College this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $7,476. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes South Texas College one of the best values for precision metal working. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $28,716. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at College Of The Mainland, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in precision metal working will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $8,542. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $45,299. That is a strong return on a $18,506 median debt.
Victoria College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Victoria College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. In-state tuition and fees average $2,976, compared with $5,328 for out-of-state students. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $10,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Victoria College generally make around $50,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Port Arthur came in at #7 for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,770 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,070. Students borrow a median of $33,385 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Lamar State College Port Arthur earn a median of $78,580 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
Amarillo College earned the #8 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $15,720. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $48,263. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College placed #9 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $14,557. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $35,102. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Philips College placed #10 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wharton County Junior College earned the #11 position for value in precision metal working this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,192 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $10,916. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $28,408. Set against $10,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College earned the #12 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $9,000. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Tarrant County College District landed the #13 spot for precision metal working value this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Texas College earned the #14 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $6,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $8,691. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $68,077. Set against $8,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Bend College earned the #15 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,916, with out-of-state students paying around $5,226. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $14,609. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,086 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brazosport College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,388 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,711 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $6,625. Precision Metal Working graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Valley Community College landed the #17 spot for precision metal working value this year. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,640, while out-of-state students pay about $5,970. Students borrow a median of $12,323 to complete the precision metal working program here. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Trinity Valley Community College generally make around $35,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College placed #18 among the best values for precision metal working. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $44,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Panola College came in at #19 for value in precision metal working this year. Panola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Carthage. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,232 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,072 ten years after entry.
Austin Community College District earned the #20 position for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for precision metal working graduates is $14,970. Soon after graduation, precision metal working degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $42,270. That is a strong return on a $14,970 median debt.
Grayson College landed the #21 spot for precision metal working value this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Houston Community College came in at #22 for value in precision metal working this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $10,022 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $27,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College came in at #23 for value in precision metal working this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans. Early-career precision metal working graduates make about $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value precision metal working schools. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Precision Metal Working graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Precision Metal Working graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ranger College earned the #25 position for value in precision metal working this year. Ranger College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ranger. Students from in state pay about $2,766 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,066 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,749 to complete the precision metal working program here. Precision Metal Working graduates of Ranger College earn a median of $35,756 early in their careers. Set against $12,749 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s precision metal working value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 69 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 69 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.
