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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,249

57th percentile

60th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$9,429

5% above national median

Analysis

Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie delivers solid value in precision metal working, particularly when compared to other Texas programs. With first-year earnings of $37,249, graduates earn nearly $7,000 more than the typical Texas program in this field ($30,105), ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. The debt load of $9,429 is reasonable, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25—meaning graduates owe about three months' salary, which is quite favorable for a technical program.

The earnings trajectory shows steady growth, reaching $42,279 by year four, representing a 14% increase that demonstrates the program's long-term value. While this doesn't match the top-performing Texas programs like Amarillo College ($48,263), it significantly outperforms the state median and provides substantially better outcomes than most alternatives. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives confidence in these figures.

For parents considering this investment, the numbers tell a clear story: your child would likely earn more than most precision metal working graduates in Texas while taking on manageable debt. The program serves a high percentage of Pell grant recipients (59%), suggesting it provides accessible pathways to middle-class earnings. This represents a smart investment for students seeking stable, well-paying technical careers without excessive educational debt.

Where Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie 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-Grand Prairie	$37,249	$42,279	+14%
School of Automotive Machinists & Technology	$43,065	$50,472	+17%
Elite Welding Academy	$38,717	$48,013	+24%
San Jacinto Community College	$42,512	$44,619	+5%
Wharton County Junior College	$28,408	$43,137	+52%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Texas (71 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand PrairieGrand Prairie	—	$37,249	$42,279	$9,429	0.25
Amarillo CollegeAmarillo	$2,136	$48,263	—	—	—
School of Automotive Machinists & TechnologyHouston	—	$43,065	$50,472	$16,354	0.38
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena	$1,992	$42,512	$44,619	—	—
Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands	$3,090	$40,863	$28,942	$4,562	0.11
Austin Community College DistrictAustin	$2,550	$39,261	$43,110	$15,818	0.40
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-Grand Prairie, approximately 59% 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 1223 graduates with reported earnings and 1194 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.