Location: Johnstown, PA•In-State Tuition: $6,990•Out-of-State Tuition: $13,080
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,225
Est. from PA median (8 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$11,562
Est. from national median (20 programs)

Analysis

Pennsylvania Highlands' precision metal working program estimates debt around $11,562—notably lower than the state median of $13,944 for similar programs—paired with projected earnings of $40,225 based on what other PA precision metal working programs typically produce. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 suggests graduates would owe less than one-third of their first-year salary, which is manageable territory for a technical associate's degree. However, it's worth noting that Pennsylvania's strongest precision metal working programs report substantially higher outcomes: Thaddeus Stevens grads earn over $52,000, and Penn College of Technology tops $50,000, suggesting program quality varies considerably across the state.

The estimated earnings here align with Pennsylvania's median for this field, placing the program in the middle of the pack rather than among the top performers. For families in the Johnstown area, this program offers a potentially affordable path into skilled manufacturing work without accumulating crushing debt. But if your child is willing to relocate or commute, the higher-earning programs might justify the extra effort—an additional $10,000+ annually can make a significant difference in early career financial stability. The precision metal working field does support living-wage careers, but choosing where to train appears to matter considerably for long-term earnings potential in Pennsylvania.

Where Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Stands

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

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (22 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Pennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeJohnstown$6,990$40,225*—$11,562*—
Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyLancaster$9,050$52,298*$54,954$12,000*0.23
Pennsylvania College of TechnologyWilliamsport$17,940$50,402*$55,060$14,750*0.29
New Castle School of TradesNew Castle—$43,671*$43,303$9,931*0.23
Triangle Tech Inc-BethlehemBethlehem$18,593$40,225*$45,784$18,262*0.45
Triangle Tech Inc-GreensburgGreensburg$18,513$40,225*$45,784$18,262*0.45
National Median—$41,504*—$12,000*0.29
* 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 Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, approximately 19% 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 8 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.