Location: Estherville, IA•In-State Tuition: $7,196•Out-of-State Tuition: $7,644
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,613
Est. from IA median (7 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$5,500
Est. from IA median (5 programs)

Analysis

Precision metal working programs in Iowa cluster tightly around $40,000-$45,000 in first-year earnings, and estimates for Iowa Lakes suggest outcomes near the middle of that pack at $41,613. That's roughly $5,000 above the national median for this certificate, which makes sense given Iowa's manufacturing sector demand. The estimated debt load of $5,500 is notably lighter than the $9,000 national median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.13—meaning graduates would owe about six weeks' worth of their first year's salary.

The challenge here is that these figures come from similar programs across Iowa rather than Iowa Lakes' specific track record, so there's real uncertainty about whether this particular program delivers outcomes closer to the top performers like Marshalltown ($45,972) or the lower end of the range. Metal working is a field where local employer relationships and equipment quality can create significant variation between programs even in the same state.

For parents considering this certificate, the estimated numbers suggest a reasonable short-term investment if they hold true—you'd be looking at manageable debt for a credential that could lead to immediate employment in manufacturing. But given the estimates, visiting the campus to see the equipment, talking to local employers about hiring patterns, and asking the school directly about job placement rates becomes essential due diligence rather than optional research.

Where Iowa Lakes Community College Stands

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

Iowa Lakes Community College (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEstherville$7,196$41,613*—$5,500*—
Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown$5,304$45,972*——*—
Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo$6,308$45,509*$44,868$7,874*0.17
Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar$6,600$43,588*$49,983$5,479*0.13
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City$5,042$41,613*—$7,910*0.19
Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny$5,550$39,397*$43,506$5,500*0.14
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 Iowa Lakes Community College, approximately 20% 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 7 similar programs in IA. Actual outcomes may vary.