Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Sinclair Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,713

Est. from OH median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$6,203

Est. from OH median (4 programs)

Analysis

In Ohio, precision metal working programs vary significantly in outcomes, and while Sinclair's small graduate pool means we're working with estimates here, the numbers suggest a financially sensible path. Similar programs at public colleges in Ohio point to first-year earnings around $38,700 paired with roughly $6,200 in debt—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16 that ranks among the more manageable credentials you'll find at any level. That's considerably less debt than the state median for these programs, which sits at $9,500.

The earnings estimate puts this program right at the state median for precision metal working, though several Ohio schools with reported outcomes—like Hobart Institute and Butler Tech—place graduates $4,000 to $7,000 higher. Whether that gap reflects differences in curriculum focus, equipment access, or regional employer connections isn't clear from this limited data. What we can say is that even at the estimated earnings level, graduates would be looking at manageable debt payments relative to their income, and the national benchmark of $36,200 suggests Ohio programs generally outperform.

For a certificate program, the low estimated debt makes this a lower-risk proposition than many alternatives. If your child is drawn to skilled trades and Sinclair offers strong industry connections in the Dayton area, this could work. Just recognize you're making this decision with peer-program data rather than Sinclair's actual track record—visiting the program and talking to local employers about hiring outcomes would help fill that gap.

Where Sinclair Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (61 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Sinclair Community CollegeDayton	$3,435	$38,713*	—	$6,203*	—
Hobart Institute of Welding TechnologyTroy	—	$45,370*	$47,472	$5,500*	0.12
Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsMonroe	—	$42,625*	—	$6,327*	0.15
Great Oaks Career CampusesCincinnati	—	$41,277*	$38,354	$6,078*	0.15
Fortis College-Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga Falls	$14,050	$39,990*	$35,129	—*	—
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical SchoolsGroveport	—	$39,328*	$44,145	$6,485*	0.16
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 Sinclair Community College, approximately 27% 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 14 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.