Precision Metal Working at Northeast Iowa Community College

Northeast Iowa Community College graduates with this certificate earn $43,588 within a year—about $7,300 above the national median and $2,000 above what Iowa students typically see from similar programs. That places this program in the 88th percentile nationally, though it ranks middle-of-the-pack (60th percentile) among Iowa's precision metalworking programs. The debt load is minimal at $5,479, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.13—meaning graduates owe roughly six weeks of their first-year salary. Earnings grow steadily to nearly $50,000 by year four, a 15% increase that suggests solid career progression.

The one caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 recent graduates means these numbers could shift year to year. Still, the fundamental economics look sound. You're looking at minimal borrowing for a credential that delivers above-average earnings quickly. While a couple of Iowa programs (Marshalltown and Hawkeye) produce slightly higher earners, Northeast Iowa's combination of low debt and strong outcomes makes it competitive. For a student interested in skilled manufacturing work, this represents a low-risk entry point into a field with clear wage growth potential.