Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Montana Technological University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,248

Est. from national median (299 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

Metal working programs in Montana can lead to solid technical careers, but the numbers here come with an important caveat: both the projected $36,200 first-year earnings and the estimated $7,900 debt are based on similar programs nationally, not actual outcomes from Montana Tech graduates. With thirteen schools offering precision metal working credentials in Montana, local employment patterns and program quality vary considerably—yet none report graduate outcomes publicly, making it difficult to assess where this specific program stands.

The debt-to-earnings estimate of 0.22 suggests a manageable financial picture if the national averages hold true in Butte's industrial market. However, certificate programs in skilled trades can produce wildly different results depending on employer connections, equipment quality, and local demand. Montana Tech's reputation as a technical university could translate to stronger outcomes than typical programs, or the estimates could prove optimistic given Montana's smaller manufacturing base compared to industrial states where most metal working data originates.

Before committing, your child needs direct answers from Montana Tech: recent graduate employment rates, local employer partnerships, and whether graduates actually achieve earnings near the $36,000 mark. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but treating them as anything more than a rough baseline would be premature given the complete absence of actual outcome data.

Where Montana Technological University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Montana Technological UniversityButte	$8,050	$36,248*	—	$7,913*	—
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$68,852*	$74,137	$21,765*	0.32
Idaho State UniversityPocatello	$8,356	$64,581*	$55,405	$9,000*	0.14
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green	$4,656	$58,996*	—	$9,413*	0.16
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton	$4,916	$53,507*	$52,715	$7,664*	0.14
Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown	$4,656	$53,172*	—	$7,166*	0.13
National Median	—	$36,248*	—	$9,000*	0.25

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Montana Technological University, approximately 21% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 299 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.