Location: Lufkin, TX•In-State Tuition: $3,150•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,150
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,123
Est. from TX median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$9,168
Est. from TX median (3 programs)

Analysis

Similar precision metalworking programs across Texas produce first-year earnings around $35,000—a figure that trails the national median of $41,500 by a meaningful margin. Programs at Austin Community College and Texas State Technical College show graduates can earn substantially more in this field, with first-year salaries reaching $45,000 or higher. That gap suggests Texas schools vary significantly in their industry connections and placement outcomes, which matters when you're investing in technical training.

The estimated debt load of around $9,200 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 that should allow most graduates to pay off their loans within the first few years of work. This is well below both the Texas median for associate programs and compares favorably to the national benchmark of $12,000 for metalworking degrees. With nearly 40% of Angelina's students receiving Pell grants, the relatively low borrowing burden is important for families working with tight budgets.

The real question is whether Angelina can match the placement success of top Texas programs in this field. Since these figures are drawn from peer institutions rather than actual outcomes at this campus, you'll want to investigate where their metalworking graduates actually land jobs and what those starting wages look like. Talk to current students or recent alumni about employer partnerships—in skilled trades, those industry relationships often determine whether you're earning $35,000 or $45,000 in your first year.

Where Angelina College Stands

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

Angelina College (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at peer institutions in Texas (41 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Angelina CollegeLufkin$3,150$35,123*—$9,168*—
Austin Community College DistrictAustin$2,550$45,279*$48,510$14,122*0.31
Texas State Technical CollegeWaco$7,192$39,234*$49,323$9,168*0.23
Trinity Valley Community CollegeAthens$2,640$35,123*$45,541—*—
South Texas CollegeMcAllen$4,920$33,167*——*—
Vernon CollegeVernon$4,080$32,206*$37,399$5,500*0.17
National Median—$41,504*—$12,000*0.29
* 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 Angelina College, approximately 39% 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 5 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.