Precision Metal Working at Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute

This precision metal working program at Miller-Motte delivers concerning results that should give parents pause. With first-year earnings of $30,105, graduates earn significantly less than both the national median ($36,248) and Arizona's state median ($34,396) for this field. The program ranks in just the 22nd percentile nationally and 40th percentile within Arizona, meaning most comparable programs produce better-earning graduates.

The financial picture offers one bright spot: at $13,000, student debt is relatively manageable and sits in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt). However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means graduates carry debt equivalent to nearly half their first-year salary. While earnings do grow 19% to $35,704 by year four, that's still below what graduates from Arizona's top programs earn right out of the gate—Universal Technical Institute grads start at $37,568.

Given that 73% of students receive Pell grants, this program primarily serves lower-income families who can least afford a poor return on investment. While the debt load is reasonable, the below-average earnings potential in a state with decent opportunities for this field suggests families should strongly consider alternatives like Universal Technical Institute or East Valley Institute of Technology, both of which deliver significantly better outcomes for similar training.