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2023 Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

262 Colleges
$5,559 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$34,754 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Precision Metal Working School for You

In 2020-2021, 52,308 precision metal working students received their degrees and certificates, making the major the #7 most popular in the country.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 262 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for precision metal working students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools in the United States

Check out the precision metal working programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Precision Metal Working

Our analysis found Coastal Pines Technical College to be the best value school for precision metal working students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Coastal Pines Technical College is a small public school located in the remote town of Waycross.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Coastal Pines Technical College are $4,906 a year.

Coastal Pines Technical College also claimed a spot on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

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$3,780 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools list. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Lincoln.

Southeast Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,780 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Southeast Community College Area

$4,098 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 262 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Louisiana Technical Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public school located in the small city of Alexandria.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Louisiana Technical Community College are $4,098 per year.

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The excellent programs at St Cloud Technical and Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best precision metal working schools in the United States. Located in the small city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public school with a small student population.

St Cloud Technical and Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,874 in tuition and fees each year.

St Cloud Technical and Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

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#5

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Saint Paul College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools list. Located in the large city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,041 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Saint Paul College

With a ranking of #6, Northcentral Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for precision metal working students. Located in the city of Wausau, North Central Technical College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Central Technical College are $5,415 a year.

North Central Technical College also claimed a spot on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Northcentral Technical College

Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the town of Alexandria, ATCC is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ATCC are $5,910 per year.

ATCC also claimed a spot on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Full Precision Metal Working at Alexandria Technical & Community College Report

Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #8 on the list. CVTC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Eau Claire.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CVTC are $6,683 per year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, CVTC also did well on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

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Anoka Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

Anoka Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,075 in tuition and fees each year.

Anoka Technical College also claimed a spot on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.

Full Precision Metal Working at Anoka Technical College Report

$4,872 Average Tuition & Fees

Wharton County Junior College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value precision metal working programs. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Wharton County Junior College are $4,872 a year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Wharton County Junior College

$5,010 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeast Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the remote town of Norfolk, Northeast is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Northeast undergraduate students pay an average of $5,010 in tuition and fees each year.

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#12

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, MN

Hennepin Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hennepin Technical College are $5,741 per year.

Full Precision Metal Working at Hennepin Technical College Report

#13

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN

Ridgewater College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the remote town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ridgewater College are $5,914 a year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Ridgewater College

$4,205 Average Tuition & Fees

South Louisiana Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value precision metal working programs. South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Lafayette.

South Louisiana Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,205 in tuition and fees each year.

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Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the rural area of Shell Lake, WITC is a public school with a small student population.

WITC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,960 in tuition and fees each year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, WITC also did well on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value precision metal working programs. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Tech is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Tech are $6,683 per year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Southwest Tech also is in the top 15% of our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools ranking.

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Central Lakes College - Brainerd landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value precision metal working programs. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Lakes College are $5,954 a year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Central Lakes College also is in the top 20% of our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools ranking.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Central Lakes College - Brainerd

Fox Valley Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value precision metal working programs. Located in the midsize suburb of Appleton, FVTC is a public college with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,861 per year.

FVTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list.

Full Precision Metal Working at Fox Valley Technical College Report

With a ranking of #19, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for precision metal working students. Located in the midsize city of Green Bay, NWTC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWTC are $6,849 per year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, NWTC also did well on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read More…

$6,208 Average Tuition & Fees

Dakota County Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools list. DCTC is a small public school located in the rural area of Rosemount.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at DCTC are $6,208 a year.

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#21

South Central College

North Mankato, MN
$5,966 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #21, South Central College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for precision metal working students. Located in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a public college with a small student population.

South Central College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,966 in tuition and fees each year.

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$4,109 Average Tuition & Fees

Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools list. NLTCC is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Minden.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NLTCC are $4,109 a year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College

#23

Hill College

Hillsboro, TX
$3,382 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #23, Hill College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for precision metal working students. Located in the distant town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a public college with a small student population.

Hill College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,382 in tuition and fees each year.

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Madison Area Technical College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools list. Madison College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Madison.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 per year.

Madison College also claimed a spot on our Best Precision Metal Working Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.

Read More…

#25

Amarillo College

Amarillo, TX
$4,704 Average Tuition & Fees

Amarillo College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for precision metal working students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 per year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Amarillo College

Rest of the Top Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools

#26

Western Technical College

La Crosse, WI
#27

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE
#33

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA
#35

South Plains College

Levelland, TX
#36

Lakeshore Technical College

Cleveland, WI
#37

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX
#38

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, WA
#39

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, WI

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools award.

Rank College Location
40 Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA
41 North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA
42 Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA
43 Mesabi Range College Virginia, MN
44 Coffeyville Community College Coffeyville, KS
45 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
46 Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, MN
47 Delta College University Center, MI
47 Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD
49 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA
50 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN
51 Augusta Technical College Augusta, GA
52 Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA

Precision Metal Working by Region

View the Best Value Precision Metal Working Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

One of 5 majors within the trade school area of study, precision metal working has other similar majors worth exploring.

Precision Metal Working Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Welding Technology/Welder 42,490
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist 3,285
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist 2,689
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant 1,921
Tool & Die Technology/Technician 584
Metal Fabricator 430
Ironworking/Ironworker 316
Other Precision Metal Working 314
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking 279

Majors Similar to Precision Metal Working

Related Major Annual Graduates
Woodworking 423
Other Precision Production 68
Leatherworking & Upholstery 54
Precision Production Trades 39
Boilermaking 13

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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.

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