Precision Metal Working at Community College of Denver

In Colorado, precision metal working programs cluster around $43,700 in first-year earnings, and Community College of Denver appears positioned near that mark based on comparable programs. With estimated debt around $11,500—slightly below the state median—the financial framework looks reasonable for skilled trades training. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 suggests graduates could feasibly manage repayment while establishing themselves in manufacturing or machining careers.

What's harder to assess is how Denver's specific program compares to the state benchmark set by Pueblo Community College, which reports actual earnings of $43,715. The estimated $41,500 falls a couple thousand dollars short, but without actual graduate outcomes from CCD, it's unclear whether that gap reflects real differences in employer connections, curriculum quality, or student placement—or simply the limitations of using national averages as proxies. In a field where local industry relationships and hands-on equipment access matter considerably, those unknowns carry weight.

The financial picture suggests manageable risk if your child completes the degree and enters the field. The debt load is modest enough that even slightly lower earnings wouldn't create crisis-level repayment burdens. But given the uncertainty, talking directly with the department about job placement rates, employer partnerships, and equipment quality would help determine whether this program delivers outcomes closer to Colorado's demonstrated benchmark or falls meaningfully short.