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Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

2023 Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

18 Colleges
$6,526 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$39,468 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree School for You

In 2021-2022, 54,790 precision metal working students received a degree or certificate, 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This report analyzed 18 schools in the Southwest Region 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 Southwest Region

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 10 Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools

#1

Amarillo College

Amarillo, TX

Our analysis found Amarillo College to be the best value school for precision metal working students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southwest Region . Located in the medium-sized city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Amarillo College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,704 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

#2

Hill College

Hillsboro, TX

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

Hill College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,462 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Hill College

#3

South Plains College

Levelland, TX

Out of the 18 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Plains College landed the # 3 spot on the list. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Levelland.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at South Plains College are $4,857 a year.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at South Plains College

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means San Jacinto Community College is a great value for precision metal working students working on their associate degree. San Jacinto College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Pasadena.

San Jacinto College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,040 in tuition and fees each year.

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#5

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

The excellent associate degree programs at Lone Star College System helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value precision metal working schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the medium-sized city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public school with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Harris Montgomery are $6,456 a year.

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Austin Community College District ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Austin Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the city of Austin.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Austin Community College District are $10,590 a year. The average amount in student loans that precision metal working majors at Austin Community College District take out while working on their Associate Degree is $13,793.

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Austin Community College District

#7

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, TX

Del Mar College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. DMC is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Corpus Christi.

DMC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,990 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Precision Metal Working at Del Mar College Report

With a ranking of #8, New Mexico State University - Carlsbad did quite well on this year’s best value schools for precision metal working students working on their associate degree. Located in the rural area of Carlsbad, NMSU Carlsbad is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NMSU Carlsbad are $4,008 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, precision metal working graduates from NMSU Carlsbad carry an average student debtload of $16,330.

Full Precision Metal Working at New Mexico State University - Carlsbad Report

Texas State Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. TSTC is a large public school located in the midsize city of Waco.

TSTC undergraduate students pay an average of $11,094 in tuition and fees each year. Precision Metal Working majors at TSTC take out an average of $10,569 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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

Read full report on Precision Metal Working at Texas State Technical College

#10

Texarkana College

Texarkana, TX

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

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Texarkana College are $5,332 a year.

Full Precision Metal Working at Texarkana College Report

Best Precision Metal Working Colleges by State

Explore the best precision metal working colleges for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 927
Texas 6,978
Oklahoma 1,721
New Mexico 235

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 18 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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