Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Columbus Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,340

Est. from GA median (12 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

Columbus Technical College's Precision Metal Working certificate appears positioned near the middle of Georgia's technical college options for this field. While first-year earnings data for this specific program isn't available, similar metal working programs across Georgia typically produce first-year earnings around $37,340, with the program's reported four-year earnings of $46,231 suggesting meaningful income growth over time. That trajectory would be solid for a certificate program—if the trajectory holds.

The estimated debt load of roughly $7,900 is manageable, well below both the state median of $10,500 and the national median of $9,000 for metal working programs. At a 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates would theoretically face less than three months of gross income in debt. However, comparing to Georgia programs with reported data reveals what's possible: North Georgia Technical College graduates earn $45,472 in their first year—about $8,000 more than the state median this estimate is based on. That gap matters for a family making a tight budget work.

The 54% Pell Grant rate indicates this program serves working-class students who need reliable outcomes, not estimates. If your child is committed to precision metal working and Columbus's location works logistically, the low debt burden offers some cushion against earnings uncertainty. But given the stronger documented outcomes at North Georgia, Coastal Pines, and Savannah Technical, it's worth comparing whether those programs are accessible alternatives before committing here.

Where Columbus Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Columbus Technical College	—	$46,231	—
Gwinnett Technical College	$40,124	$48,312	+20%
North Georgia Technical College	$45,472	$45,977	+1%
Georgia Northwestern Technical College	$38,002	$42,450	+12%
Lanier Technical College	$28,890	$42,252	+46%

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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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Columbus Technical CollegeColumbus	$3,042	$37,340*	$46,231	$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 Columbus Technical College, approximately 54% 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.