Precision Metal Working at NHTI-Concord's Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 is encouraging territory for a technical credential—comparable programs nationally suggest graduates earn around $42,000 in their first year while carrying roughly $11,500 in debt. That's a manageable burden for a two-year degree that leads directly to skilled trades work. Precision metal working programs prepare students for machine tool operation, CNC programming, and other manufacturing roles that tend to offer stable employment in New Hampshire's advanced manufacturing sector.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With earnings and debt both estimated from peer programs rather than NHTI's actual outcomes, it's difficult to know whether this specific program matches the national pattern. New Hampshire has only four schools offering this credential, and none have publicly reported data—suggesting either very small graduating cohorts or programs that may be newer or in transition. That lack of visibility makes it harder to gauge whether NHTI's connections to local manufacturers are strong enough to deliver on the typical salary expectations.

For a parent, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable upside if your student is mechanically inclined and interested in manufacturing. But given the data gaps, you'll want to dig into NHTI's job placement specifics: where do graduates actually land, and what are starting wages at those shops? The math works if the estimates hold, but you're buying on faith rather than track record.