Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Arclabs

Analysis

Arclabs' Precision Metal Working program delivers modest but reasonable outcomes, though it trails stronger alternatives within South Carolina. With median first-year earnings of $34,843 and debt of just $9,500, graduates face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27—meaning they'd need to dedicate roughly three months of gross income to pay off their loans.

However, the program's performance is distinctly average. Among South Carolina's precision metal working programs, Arclabs ranks in the 40th percentile for earnings, falling short of the state median by about $85. More concerning is the significant gap compared to top-performing programs in the state—York Technical College graduates earn $15,466 more annually, which compounds to substantial differences over a career. The program also performs below the national median by roughly $1,400.

The relatively low debt load is genuinely positive, sitting below both state and national medians. For families prioritizing minimal educational debt, this represents real value. However, given that several other South Carolina schools offer meaningfully higher earnings potential in the same field, parents should strongly consider those alternatives first. Unless geographic constraints make Arclabs the only viable option, programs like York Technical or Midlands Technical offer substantially better return on investment for the same career path.

Where Arclabs Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Arclabs graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
ArclabsPiedmont	—	$34,843	—	$9,500	0.27
York Technical CollegeRock Hill	$5,512	$50,309	$43,479	$11,250	0.22
Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia	$4,788	$47,556	—	$10,500	0.22
Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg	$5,046	$38,147	$36,665	—	—
Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence	$4,636	$34,948	$36,439	$7,230	0.21
Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood	$4,775	$34,928	$38,383	$11,625	0.33
National Median	—	$36,248	—	$9,000	0.25

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 Arclabs, approximately 57% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 606 graduates with reported earnings and 584 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.