Precision Metal Working at Ohio Technical College

This Cleveland program's graduates start 15% below Ohio's median for precision metalworking, and that gap widens when you look at the state's stronger options—Hobart Institute and Butler Tech both deliver $10,000+ higher starting earnings. Among Ohio's 61 metalworking programs, this one ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state programs produce better early outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $13,000, it's manageable and puts graduates in the 5th percentile nationally (lower is better for debt). The 30% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests the training does build marketable skills over time, pushing four-year earnings past $41,000. For families paying in-state rates, that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 means graduates could theoretically pay off loans with less than five months' salary—though that assumes starting at $32,000 rather than the state median of nearly $39,000.

The central question: why pay more than state median debt for below-median earnings? With nearly half the students receiving Pell grants, many families here are price-sensitive. If metalworking is the clear path, Ohio has stronger programs at similar or lower cost. Consider this one only if location in Cleveland is essential or if the program offers specific equipment training unavailable elsewhere nearby.