Median Earnings (1yr)
$40,902
45th percentile
60th percentile in Wyoming
Est. Median Debt
$11,562
Est. from national median (20 programs)

Analysis

Eastern Wyoming College's precision metal working program delivers outcomes that land squarely in the middle of what similar programs produce nationally, with first-year earnings of $40,902 nearly matching the national median of $41,504. With estimated debt of $11,562—based on typical borrowing patterns at similar community colleges—graduates face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, meaning they'd owe less than three months of their first year's salary. This positions the program as reasonably affordable, though earnings growth to $45,087 by year four suggests the field rewards experience somewhat modestly.

What's harder to gauge is how this program compares locally. While it ranks at the 60th percentile among Wyoming's seven precision metal working programs, none of those schools report actual graduate outcomes, leaving us to rely on estimates across the board. The relatively low Pell grant percentage (13%) suggests Eastern Wyoming may serve a less economically vulnerable population than typical community colleges, but without concrete data on this specific program's graduates, we're working with educated guesses rather than proven track records.

The fundamentals look sound: trade skills, modest debt, immediate employment. But parents should verify current job placement rates and talk to recent graduates directly before committing, since the estimates can't tell you whether this particular program has strong employer connections or effective hands-on training—factors that matter enormously in skilled trades.

Where Eastern Wyoming College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Eastern Wyoming College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Eastern Wyoming College$40,902$45,087+10%
Ferris State University$56,811$77,380+36%
Hennepin Technical College$59,829$73,136+22%
Ivy Tech Community College$56,292$64,893+15%
Dunwoody College of Technology$55,188$61,261+11%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Eastern Wyoming CollegeTorrington$4,290$40,902$45,087$11,562*—
Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park$5,881$59,829$73,136—*—
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids$13,630$56,811$77,380$17,500*0.31
Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis$4,912$56,292$64,893$6,810*0.12
Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis$25,659$55,188$61,261$12,000*0.22
Vincennes UniversityVincennes$6,886$54,908$52,065$12,000*0.22
National Median—$41,504—$12,000*0.29
* 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 Eastern Wyoming College, approximately 13% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 16 graduates with reported earnings and 11 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.