Location: Athens, GA•In-State Tuition: $3,172•Out-of-State Tuition: $5,572
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,340
Est. from GA median (12 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$7,913
Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

A debt burden around $8,000 for training in precision metalworking is manageable, even if the earnings picture remains unclear. Similar certificate programs in Georgia suggest first-year wages near $37,300, creating a comfortable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off the full amount in about three months of gross income. That's far better than the national median debt of $9,000 for this credential, and significantly lower than Georgia's state median of $10,500.

The uncertainty here is significant. Without actual graduate outcomes from Athens Tech, we're relying on what other metalworking programs in Georgia produce. The state's top performers—North Georgia Tech and Coastal Pines—report first-year earnings above $43,000, suggesting the field has real upside if you land with the right employer or specialty. But Athens Tech's specific placements, industry connections, and equipment quality remain unknown variables that could swing outcomes in either direction.

For parents weighing this investment, the low debt makes this a relatively safe bet compared to many vocational programs. Even if earnings land below the state median, an $8,000 credential that leads to $35,000-plus starting wages offers a clear path to financial independence. The risk isn't catastrophic debt—it's whether Athens Tech specifically delivers the hands-on training and employer networks that its higher-performing peers clearly provide.

Where Athens Technical College Stands

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

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

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

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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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Athens Technical CollegeAthens$3,172$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 Athens Technical College, approximately 35% 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.