Location: La Junta, CO•In-State Tuition: $4,418•Out-of-State Tuition: $7,048
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,249
Est. from CO median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$8,236
Est. from CO median (4 programs)

Analysis

Similar precision metal working programs across Colorado suggest first-year earnings around $37,000—right at the state median but trailing some community college options by $10,000 or more. Aims Community College and Emily Griffith Technical College both report actual outcomes above $44,000, which matters when you're evaluating a hands-on trade credential where skill development should translate directly to wages.

The estimated $8,200 debt load keeps this financially manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 that's well within workable territory for a technical certificate. Compared to peer programs statewide that carry similar debt burdens, the economics check out—you'd have a reasonable path to paying down loans on typical metalworking wages. The challenge is whether Otero's program delivers the same skill level as competitors whose graduates are landing higher-paying positions right out of the gate.

For families in southeastern Colorado where Otero serves as the local option, this certificate could work if your child plans to stay regional and the estimated outcomes hold true. But if mobility isn't an issue, the $10,000 earning difference between this and top-performing programs compounds quickly over a career. Ask Otero directly about job placement rates and where recent graduates are working—without actual data to verify outcomes, you need concrete evidence that their training leads to competitive positions in the field.

Where Otero College Stands

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

Otero College (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Otero CollegeLa Junta$4,418$37,249*—$8,236*—
Aims Community CollegeGreeley$2,090$47,680*——*—
Emily Griffith Technical CollegeDenver—$44,943*—$8,125*0.18
Lincoln College of Technology-DenverDenver—$37,249*$42,279$9,429*0.25
Front Range Community CollegeWestminster$4,740$34,125*$42,114$8,347*0.24
Pueblo Community CollegePueblo$4,883$25,970*$33,636$6,625*0.26
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 Otero College, approximately 34% 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 5 similar programs in CO. Actual outcomes may vary.