Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,340

Est. from GA median (12 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

Similar Precision Metal Working programs in Georgia suggest first-year earnings around $37,340 paired with estimated debt of $7,913—a ratio that translates to roughly 2.5 months of gross pay, which is manageable for a certificate program. The estimated earnings align closely with the state median, though they trail the top technical colleges in Georgia by $5,000 to $8,000. What you're likely getting here is a solid entry into skilled manufacturing work without the debt burden that can make trade certificates financially precarious.

The gap between Abraham Baldwin's estimated outcomes and programs like North Georgia Technical College ($45,472) or Coastal Pines ($43,040) raises questions worth investigating. Are their graduates landing better manufacturing jobs, or do they serve regions with higher industrial wages? For a certificate this short, location and employer relationships matter enormously. If Abraham Baldwin has strong ties to metal fabrication shops or manufacturers in South Georgia, the actual outcomes could match or exceed these peer-based estimates.

The relatively low debt estimate works in this program's favor—you're looking at roughly half what similar programs typically carry. For a student pursuing hands-on manufacturing skills who wants to avoid four-year costs, this could serve as a practical workforce entry point. Before committing, though, verify what specific employers recruit from this program and whether graduates are actually securing jobs that justify even this modest investment.

Where Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all precision metal working certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (25 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton	$3,195	$37,340*	—	$7,913*	—
North Georgia Technical CollegeClarkesville	$3,162	$45,472*	$45,977	—*	—
Coastal Pines Technical CollegeWaycross	$3,040	$43,040*	$41,494	—*	—
Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah	$3,072	$41,604*	$38,846	—*	—
Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville	$3,356	$40,124*	$48,312	—*	—
Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeSandersville	$3,201	$38,673*	$34,017	—*	—
National Median	—	$36,248*	—	$9,000*	0.25

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with precision metal working graduates

Sheet Metal Workers

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

$60,850/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Machinists

Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

$57,700/yrJobs growth:

Tool and Die Makers

Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.

$57,700/yrJobs growth:

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to roll steel or plastic forming bends, beads, knurls, rolls, or plate, or to flatten, temper, or reduce gauge of material.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

$46,800/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 12 similar programs in GA. Actual outcomes may vary.