Location: Thief River Falls, MN•In-State Tuition: $6,262
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$49,342
Est. from MN median (13 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$9,500
Est. from MN median (11 programs)

Analysis

Minnesota's metal working programs produce notably stronger outcomes than most of the country—comparable programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $49,300, substantially higher than the national typical figure of $36,200. With estimated debt of $9,500 (close to the state median for similar credentials), graduates would owe roughly $190 for every $1,000 they earn in their first year. That's a manageable ratio, particularly in skilled trades where earning potential often grows with experience and certifications.

The challenge here is that all the figures are estimates drawn from peer programs statewide, so there's uncertainty about whether Northland's specific outcomes track with these statewide trends. The good news: Minnesota's top metal working programs cluster tightly in the $49,600-$52,500 range, suggesting fairly consistent outcomes across the state's technical colleges. The less optimistic view: without actual graduate data from this program, you're making an educated guess rather than evaluating proven results.

For parents comfortable with some uncertainty, the fundamentals look sound—metal working offers clear career paths, the debt load is modest, and Minnesota's labor market appears to value these skills well above the national average. Just understand you're betting on Northland delivering outcomes similar to its peers, not evaluating what its graduates have actually achieved.

Where Northland Community and Technical College Stands

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

Northland Community and Technical College (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (22 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Northland Community and Technical CollegeThief River Falls$6,262$49,342*—$9,500*—
Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park$5,881$52,456*$52,821$9,329*0.18
Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAlexandria$6,213$51,141*$55,483$9,500*0.19
Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul$6,318$50,842*$50,851$9,928*0.20
Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount$6,419$50,464*$45,038$5,500*0.11
St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeSaint Cloud$4,957$49,636*$52,427$9,500*0.19
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 Northland Community and Technical College, approximately 22% 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 median of 13 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.