Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Mountwest Community and Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,248

Est. from national median (299 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$7,913

Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

A debt load around $7,900 for a credential in precision metal working represents a manageable starting point, particularly when peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings in the mid-$30,000s. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 means graduates would typically owe less than three months' salary—a reasonable threshold for technical training that leads directly to employment. The real question is whether Mountwest's specific program connects students to the manufacturing opportunities in the Huntington area, since these earnings estimates come from national trends rather than this school's actual graduate outcomes.

West Virginia has eleven schools offering precision metal working programs, but none report sufficient graduate data for direct comparison. This makes it difficult to assess whether Mountwest's training stands out locally or simply mirrors what's available elsewhere in the state. The estimated $36,200 first-year earnings align with the national median for this field, suggesting neither premium nor penalty—though actual outcomes could vary significantly based on the program's industry partnerships and local job market conditions.

The relatively low debt figure offers some cushion if earnings fall short of estimates, but parents should verify job placement rates and employer connections before committing. With 41% of Mountwest students receiving Pell grants, many families are making cost-sensitive decisions—making it essential to confirm that graduates actually secure the manufacturing jobs these estimates assume.

Where Mountwest Community and Technical College 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
Mountwest Community and Technical CollegeHuntington	$4,818	$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 Mountwest Community and Technical College, approximately 41% 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.