Precision Metal Working at Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence-Darlington Technical College's Precision Metal Working certificate gets you working quickly with minimal debt—$7,230 is notably lower than both the state median ($10,279) and national average ($9,000). At a 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates could reasonably pay off their loans within a year if they prioritized it. However, ranking in the 60th percentile among South Carolina programs means you're getting middle-of-the-pack results when stronger options exist in-state. York Technical and Midlands Technical both produce graduates earning $10,000-$15,000 more annually, which compounds significantly over a career.

The modest 4% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests limited advancement potential—what you earn initially is roughly what you'll make down the road. This isn't necessarily problematic for skilled trades, where consistent income matters more than trajectory, but it does mean you're trading career mobility for immediate employment. The program serves its Pell-eligible student population (45%) by delivering affordable credentials that lead to stable work, just not exceptional pay.

If your child values low debt and quick entry into manufacturing, this works. But if other community colleges in South Carolina are geographically accessible, those higher-earning programs would deliver considerably better returns for a similar investment. The difference between earning $36,000 and $47,000 annually isn't trivial—it's $11,000 more every year, potentially $440,000 over a 40-year career.