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Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools

2023 Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

113 Colleges
$6,092 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$39,468 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree School for You

Precision Metal Working is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 7th of all the majors we analyze. In 2021-2022, 54,790 degrees and certificates were awarded to students with this major.

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 Associate Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 113 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value associate degree 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 Associate Degree Schools in the United States

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

Top 15% Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools

Our analysis found Southeast Community College Area to be the best value school for precision metal working students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. Southeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Lincoln.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeast Community College are $3,864 a year. Precision Metal Working majors at Southeast Community College take out an average of $11,554 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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

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

#2

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, MN

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Hennepin Technical College is a great value for precision metal working students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Hennepin Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,881 in tuition and fees each year. Precision Metal Working majors at Hennepin Technical College take out an average of $16,303 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

In addition to its great value ranking, Hennepin Technical College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Trade Schools list.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Anoka Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the 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. After completing their Associate Degree, precision metal working graduates from Anoka Technical College carry an average student debtload of $10,404.

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

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northcentral Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Wausau, North Central Technical College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

North Central Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,512 in tuition and fees each year.

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

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Northcentral Technical College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at St Cloud Technical and Community College are $6,075 a year.

In addition to its great value ranking, St Cloud Technical and Community College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Trade Schools list.

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#6

Amarillo College

Amarillo, TX

Amarillo College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

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

Full Precision Metal Working at Amarillo College Report

#7

South Central College

North Mankato, MN

South Central College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Central College are $6,146 per year.

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#8

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN

With a ranking of #8, Ridgewater College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for precision metal working students working on their associate degree. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ridgewater College are $6,114 per year.

Ridgewater College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Trade Schools list.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Ridgewater College

North Dakota State College of Science landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree precision metal working programs. North Dakota State College of Science is a small public school located in the distant town of Wahpeton.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Dakota State College of Science are $6,879 per year. Precision Metal Working majors at North Dakota State College of Science take out an average of $10,193 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

In addition to its great value ranking, North Dakota State College of Science is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Trade Schools list.

Full Precision Metal Working at North Dakota State College of Science Report

#10

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE

Central Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,710 per year. The average amount in student loans that precision metal working majors at Central Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $5,143.

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#10

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, WA

Bellingham Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools ranking. Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is a small public school located in the small city of Bellingham.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute undergraduate students pay an average of $5,357 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Precision Metal Working at Bellingham Technical College Report

With a ranking of #12, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for precision metal working students working on their associate degree. WCTC is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Pewaukee.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCTC are $6,722 per year.

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

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Waukesha County Technical College

#13

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA

Hawkeye Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools ranking. Hawkeye Community College is a small public school located in the small city of Waterloo.

Hawkeye Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,583 in tuition and fees each year.

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#14

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree precision metal working programs. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, precision metal working majors at Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of around $10,501 in student debt.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Ivy Tech Community College also is in the top 5% of our Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking.

Full Precision Metal Working at Ivy Tech Community College Report

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Appleton, FVTC is a public college with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,977 per year. Precision Metal Working majors at FVTC take out an average of $7,725 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Fox Valley Technical College

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree precision metal working programs. Located in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology are $8,450 a year. Precision Metal Working majors at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology take out an average of $9,868 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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

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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 Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
17 Hill College Hillsboro, TX
18 Lake Area Technical Institute Watertown, SD
19 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
20 Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MN
21 Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI
22 South Plains College Levelland, TX

Precision Metal Working by Region

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

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
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 46,029
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist 3,181
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist 2,275
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant 1,588
Tool & Die Technology/Technician 541
Metal Fabricator 413
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking 319
Ironworking/Ironworker 226
Other Precision Metal Working 218

Majors Similar to Precision Metal Working

Related Major Annual Graduates
Woodworking 435
Other Precision Production 67
Leatherworking & Upholstery 46
Precision Production Trades 44
Boilermaking 29

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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