Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia

Median Earnings (1yr)

$39,408

71st percentile

Median Debt

$11,597

29% above national median

Analysis

At a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.29, Lincoln College of Technology's precision metal working program offers one of the cleaner financial pictures you'll find in career training. Students graduate with relatively modest debt of $11,597 while earning nearly $40,000 in their first year—about $6,000 more than Maryland's median for this field and $3,000 above the national average.

The program ranks in the 71st percentile nationally and 60th percentile within Maryland, meaning it consistently outperforms most competitors. More importantly, graduates see steady earnings growth, reaching $42,154 by year four. While Maryland has only five schools offering this program, Lincoln College sits comfortably ahead of the pack—earning $4,000-10,000 more annually than graduates from other Maryland precision metal working programs.

For parents concerned about career training ROI, this program delivers measurable value. The debt load is manageable (14th percentile nationally, meaning 86% of similar programs saddle students with more debt), and the earnings trajectory shows skilled metalworkers remain in demand. With over half the student body qualifying for Pell grants, the school clearly serves working-class families seeking practical career advancement—and the post-graduation numbers suggest they're succeeding.

Where Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia	$39,408	$42,154	+7%
Ferris State University	$68,852	$74,137	+8%
North American Trade Schools	$35,239	$41,992	+19%
All-State Career-Baltimore	$28,893	$33,521	+16%
Fortis Institute-Towson	$31,899	$33,321	+4%

Compare to Similar Programs in Maryland

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Maryland (5 total in state)

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School	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Lincoln College of Technology-ColumbiaColumbia	$39,408	$42,154	$11,597	0.29
North American Trade SchoolsBaltimore	$35,239	$41,992	$8,549	0.24
Fortis Institute-TowsonTowson	$31,899	$33,321	$13,000	0.41
All-State Career-BaltimoreBaltimore	$28,893	$33,521	$12,999	0.45
National Median	$36,248	—	$9,000	0.25

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 Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia, approximately 53% 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 339 graduates with reported earnings and 335 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.