Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Saint Paul College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$50,842

95th percentile

60th percentile in Minnesota

Median Debt

$9,928

10% above national median

Analysis

Saint Paul College's Precision Metal Working certificate punches well above its weight nationally—ranking in the 95th percentile for graduate earnings—but sits squarely in the middle of Minnesota's competitive landscape. At $50,842 in first-year earnings, graduates earn $14,000 more than the national median for this program, yet trail slightly behind top Minnesota schools like Hennepin Tech and Alexandria Tech. The debt load of $9,928 translates to a manageable 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly two months' salary.

The complete stagnation in earnings between years one and four deserves attention. While many trades see steady wage growth as workers gain experience, this pattern suggests graduates may be reaching their earning ceiling quickly—or that local market conditions cap advancement. With 40% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves working-class families seeking quick economic mobility, and it does deliver immediate returns.

For parents weighing this option, the math works: under $10,000 in debt for a $50,000+ starting salary is a solid foundation. Just understand you're paying for geographic access to Minnesota's strong manufacturing sector rather than exceptional outcomes within the state. If your child can commute to Saint Paul rather than relocate to Hennepin or Dakota County, this represents a practical path into middle-class wages without the flat earnings trajectory being a dealbreaker for an entry-level credential.

Where Saint Paul College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Saint Paul College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Saint Paul College	$50,842	$50,851	+0%
Alexandria Technical & Community College	$51,141	$55,483	+8%
Lake Superior College	$43,610	$53,291	+22%
Central Lakes College-Brainerd	$40,671	$53,271	+31%
Hennepin Technical College	$52,456	$52,821	+1%

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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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul	$6,318	$50,842	$50,851	$9,928	0.20
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
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
Anoka Technical CollegeAnoka	$6,267	$49,632	$51,324	$8,692	0.18
National Median	—	$36,248	—	$9,000	0.25

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 Saint Paul College, approximately 40% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 115 graduates with reported earnings and 85 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.