Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Campbellsville University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,824

Est. from KY median (10 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$8,424

Est. from national median (15 programs)

Analysis

Kentucky's community and technical colleges dominate precision metal working outcomes, with the strongest programs launching graduates into $50,000+ first-year earnings. Against that backdrop, Campbellsville's certificate appears positioned near the state median—peer programs in Kentucky suggest around $42,000 in first-year earnings, with debt loads under $8,500. That puts this program in the middle tier of Kentucky options, though substantially ahead of the national benchmark of $36,000.

The debt-to-earnings picture looks manageable at first glance, with borrowing representing roughly 20% of first year income based on comparable programs. That's a reasonable starting point for a technical credential. However, the gap with Kentucky's top performers is significant—programs at Southcentral Kentucky CTC and Elizabethtown CTC are producing earnings that are 25-40% higher. For a field where welding and machining skills should be fairly standardized, those differences matter and likely reflect stronger employer connections or more comprehensive equipment training.

For families considering this path, the key question is whether Campbellsville's private university setting justifies choosing it over Kentucky's technical college system. The estimated debt is slightly lower than the state median, but the earnings appear comparable to community college outcomes while those institutions often cost considerably less upfront. If proximity or specific program features make Campbellsville the practical choice, the financial fundamentals aren't alarming—but explore the technical college alternatives first.

Where Campbellsville University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (17 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville	$26,990	$41,824*	—	$8,424*	—
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green	$4,656	$58,996*	—	$9,413*	0.16
Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown	$4,656	$53,172*	—	$7,166*	0.13
Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington	$4,706	$46,133*	—	$10,684*	0.23
Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeOwensboro	$4,656	$45,366*	—	$7,475*	0.16
Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence	$4,656	$42,233*	—	$9,041*	0.21
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 Campbellsville University, approximately 22% 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 10 similar programs in KY. Actual outcomes may vary.