Location: Cleveland, TN•In-State Tuition: $4,530•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,730
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$34,739
Est. from TN median (24 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$7,913
Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

Cleveland State's precision metal working certificate comes with an estimated debt load of $7,913—notably lower than both the state median of $9,429 and the national median of $9,000 for similar programs. With projected first-year earnings around $34,739 based on comparable Tennessee programs, this translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months' salary. That's a manageable starting point for a technical credential.

The challenge is in the earnings potential. Top-performing Tennessee programs in this field—like Jackson and Murfreesboro's technical colleges—report graduates earning $43,000 to $44,000 in their first year, roughly $9,000 more than what Cleveland State's program suggests. That gap matters when you're trying to establish financial independence. While the national median sits slightly higher at $36,248, the fact that peer Tennessee programs consistently outperform the state average raises questions about what distinguishes stronger outcomes from weaker ones.

For families focused on minimizing debt while gaining technical skills, this program delivers on the first goal. But given that better-earning alternatives exist within Tennessee's technical college system, it's worth comparing curriculum, equipment, and employer partnerships before committing. The low debt buys flexibility, but higher earnings elsewhere could outweigh that advantage within the first year of work.

Where Cleveland State Community College Stands

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

Cleveland State Community College (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (30 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Cleveland State Community CollegeCleveland$4,530$34,739*—$7,913*—
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonJackson—$43,864*$41,465—*—
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MurfreesboroMurfreesboro—$42,688*——*—
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ShelbyvilleShelbyville—$40,605*$46,721—*—
Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga$4,550$39,664*$38,759$4,611*0.12
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-KnoxvilleKnoxville—$39,054*$43,143—*—
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 Cleveland State Community College, approximately 29% 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 24 similar programs in TN. Actual outcomes may vary.