Location: Toms River, NJ
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,249
Est. from NJ median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$7,913
Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

This certificate carries an estimated $7,913 in debt—notably below both the state median ($9,429) and national median ($9,000) for precision metal working programs. Based on outcomes from comparable vocational programs in New Jersey, first-year earnings around $37,249 create a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21, meaning graduates would owe roughly two months of their starting salary. That's a reasonable financial proposition for a credential that gets students working quickly.

The earnings estimate, derived from four similar programs across New Jersey, aligns almost exactly with the national median for this field ($36,248), suggesting steady demand for these skills at consistent wages. Other vocational schools in the state producing precision metalworkers show a relatively narrow range—from about $27,000 to $39,000—with Ocean County's program tracking near the middle to upper end of that spectrum. For families concerned about their student accruing massive debt, a sub-$8,000 price tag represents a stark contrast to typical four-year college costs.

The practical takeaway: if your child has aptitude for hands-on technical work and wants to enter the workforce without the burden of five-figure student loans, this appears financially sound based on peer programs. The lower debt load provides breathing room even if actual earnings come in below the estimate, and the 42% Pell grant population suggests the school serves working-class families navigating similar calculations.

Where Ocean County Vocational-Technical School Stands

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

Ocean County Vocational-Technical School (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in New Jersey

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in New Jersey (10 total in state)

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SchoolEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Ocean County Vocational-Technical SchoolToms River$37,249*—$7,913*—
Universal Technical Institute-BloomfieldBloomfield$39,141*——*—
Lincoln Technical Institute-South PlainfieldSouth Plainfield$37,249*$42,279$9,429*0.25
Lincoln Technical Institute-MahwahMahwah$37,249*$42,279$9,429*0.25
Hohokus School of Trade and Technical SciencesPaterson$26,736*$47,845$7,600*0.28
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 Ocean County Vocational-Technical School, approximately 42% 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 4 similar programs in NJ. Actual outcomes may vary.