Field of study · CIP 48.05
Precision Metal Working
Offered at 1,393 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 963 | $42,687 | $50,056 | $8,331 |
| Associate | 429 | $49,355 | $57,296 | $12,000 |
| Bachelor's | 1 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris State University | MI | $72,223 | $89,270 | $16,757 |
| 2 | Minnesota North College | MN | $51,286 | $84,934 | $6,945 |
| 3 | Riverland Community College | MN | — | $77,034 | — |
| 4 | Idaho State University | ID | $59,367 | $73,173 | $6,500 |
| 5 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | WI | $46,236 | $72,875 | $5,351 |
| 6 | Saint Paul College | MN | $58,976 | $71,331 | $12,585 |
| 7 | Southern Crescent Technical College | GA | — | $70,919 | — |
| 8 | Lee College | TX | $70,412 | — | — |
| 9 | Coastal Pines Technical College | GA | $55,402 | $70,151 | — |
| 10 | Hennepin Technical College | MN | $64,415 | $69,960 | $14,750 |
| 11 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | KY | $69,657 | — | $8,750 |
| 12 | Northland Community and Technical College | MN | $56,194 | $69,154 | — |
| 13 | Anoka Technical College | MN | $57,915 | $68,823 | $5,500 |
| 14 | Del Mar College | TX | — | $67,869 | — |
| 15 | Clackamas Community College | OR | — | $66,747 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris State University | MI | — | $93,375 | $12,000 |
| 2 | Hennepin Technical College | MN | $68,632 | $81,450 | $13,954 |
| 3 | Central Piedmont Community College | NC | — | $80,985 | — |
| 4 | Muskegon Community College | MI | — | $75,021 | — |
| 5 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | PA | $63,054 | $73,743 | $19,500 |
| 6 | Dunwoody College of Technology | MN | $60,388 | $73,552 | $12,000 |
| 7 | Anoka Technical College | MN | $62,495 | $72,532 | — |
| 8 | State Technical College of Missouri | MO | $52,814 | $72,032 | $12,000 |
| 9 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | PA | $54,231 | $71,297 | $12,000 |
| 10 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | $69,427 | $70,867 | $8,998 |
| 11 | Lake Superior College | MN | — | $69,683 | — |
| 12 | Del Mar College | TX | $41,304 | $69,323 | — |
| 13 | Green River College | WA | $56,806 | $68,699 | — |
| 14 | Vincennes University | IN | $50,612 | $68,463 | $9,000 |
| 15 | Des Moines Area Community College | IA | $65,355 | $68,230 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
