Minneapolis Community & Technical College serves as home to more than 14,500 students. The college offers a diploma program in machine tool technology. To enroll, students must have a high school diploma or GED, have the ability to lift heavy loads and good hand-eye coordination. The program requires approximately four semesters to complete, if courses are taken full-time. Required coursework includes blueprint-reading, engine lathes, vertical milling, grinding, welding and information technology. The college has an articulation agreement in place that allows graduates of the program to transfer their credits toward a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial technology at Minnesota State University at Moorhead.
Eligible students at Minneapolis Community & Technical College can benefit from government grants and loans, institutional scholarships and work-study placements to help offset the cost of tuition. Job placement assistance is available through the Career Services department. The college has a branch of the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. VICA promotes networking for alumni and current students in industrial technology programs like machining.
Alexandria Technical & Community College offers both a diploma and an Associate of Applied Science degree in machine tool technology. Both programs have the same core requirements, which includes coursework in blueprint reading, mathematics for the shop, turning, milling, grinding, computer-aided manufacturing, numerical control, process planning and jig and fixture design. The diploma program curriculum also includes classes in communications, mold building, mechanatronics and math. Degree students take extra classes in job search skills, consumer economics, technical writing and college algebra.
Alexandria Technical & Community College has three different scholarships available exclusively for for machine tool technology programs. Federal and state financial aid programs and work study placements are also available for qualified students. The Employment Center at the college assists with interview preparation and other job-search related activities.
St. Cloud Technical and Community College serves as home to more than 5,400 students. The college offers both a technical diploma and an Associate of Applied Science degree in machine tool technology. Among the courses required for the diploma program are applied algebra, blueprint reading, metal joining and fabrication, dimensioning, metallurgy, high-performance manufacturing and advanced electrical discharge machining. The associate degree programs includes all of the classes required for the diploma with additional coursework in trigonometry, physics and communications. Both courses of study require students to complete a final project related to computer aided manufacturing and machining. The program boasted a 96 percent job placement rate, as of October 2010.
Financial aid programs at St. Cloud Technical and Community College include veterans benefits, federal and state loans and grants, work-study placements and institutional scholarships. An on-site daycare provides low-cost childcare for students' children.