Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri

Median Earnings (1yr)

$31,630

28th percentile

40th percentile in Missouri

Median Debt

$9,500

6% above national median

Analysis

This precision metal working program delivers mediocre returns that should give cost-conscious parents pause. At $31,630 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $5,000 less than the national median for similar programs and $3,200 below Missouri's state median. The program ranks in just the 28th percentile nationally and 40th percentile within Missouri—meaning most comparable programs produce better outcomes.

The financial picture isn't catastrophic but lacks compelling value. With $9,500 in typical debt and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30, the burden is manageable compared to many college programs. However, the modest 7% earnings growth over four years suggests limited career advancement potential. When Missouri schools like Ranken Technical College produce graduates earning $45,000+ in the same field, this program's performance looks particularly weak.

For families prioritizing affordability and quick workforce entry, the low debt load offers some appeal. But given that 23 Missouri schools offer this program and several significantly outperform Midwest Technical Institute, your child would likely be better served applying to higher-performing alternatives like Ranken or Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, which deliver substantially better earnings outcomes in the same timeframe.

Where Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri 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
Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri	$31,630	$33,836	+7%
Ferris State University	$68,852	$74,137	+8%
Alexandria Technical & Community College	$51,141	$55,483	+8%
Ranken Technical College	$45,004	$49,350	+10%
Ozarks Technical Community College	$32,817	$39,166	+19%

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (23 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Midwest Technical Institute-MissouriSpringfield	—	$31,630	$33,836	$9,500	0.30
Ranken Technical CollegeSaint Louis	$17,490	$45,004	$49,350	$9,500	0.21
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City	$3,630	$36,908	—	—	—
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield	$4,184	$32,817	$39,166	$4,737	0.14
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 Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri, approximately 60% 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 718 graduates with reported earnings and 752 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.