Precision Metal Working at Cowley County Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 is exactly what you want to see in a technical program—borrowing less than three months of projected income to enter the workforce. While Cowley County's specific outcomes aren't available due to small class sizes, comparable precision metalworking associate's programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $41,500, with debt typically near $12,000. The estimated $11,562 borrowing here falls slightly below that benchmark.

What makes this worth considering is the four-year earnings figure of $42,011, which is actual reported data for this program. That number staying essentially flat with first-year projections tells you these aren't jobs where massive salary growth happens quickly, but they do offer stability. Precision metalworking tends to produce steady employment rather than dramatic income trajectories—think skilled manufacturing and fabrication roles that pay reliably from the start.

The relatively modest debt load is the key here. Even if actual earnings land somewhat below the estimated $41,504, you're looking at borrowing that a machinist's or welder's salary can reasonably handle. With 35% of students receiving Pell grants, Cowley appears to serve students for whom affordable skill-building matters more than pursuing higher-cost credentials with uncertain returns.