Precision Metal Working at Lakeland Community College

Precision metal working programs in Ohio typically produce first-year earnings around $39,000, and peer programs across the country suggest starting salaries in the low-to-mid $40,000s—putting Lakeland's estimated figures squarely in the middle of what's typical for this field. The estimated debt load of $11,562 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months of their first year's salary. That's a manageable starting point for a skilled trade, especially in a region with active manufacturing.

The challenge here is the uncertainty: with too few graduates to report actual outcomes, we're relying entirely on what similar programs produce elsewhere. That means you can't know whether Lakeland's specific employer connections, equipment, or instruction translate those typical numbers into reality for their students. Ohio Technical College, the only in-state program with public data, reports $38,861—slightly below the national estimate but still in the same neighborhood.

For a parent weighing this investment, the fundamentals look reasonable if your child is committed to metalworking—the debt isn't crushing, and the field offers solid middle-class wages. But you'll need to do extra legwork: talk to recent graduates directly, visit the shop floor, and understand where students actually get hired. Without school-specific outcomes, those conversations become your data.