Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Median Earnings (1yr)
$25,077
5th percentile
25th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$7,125
21% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.28 ManageableSample: 766 graduates

Analysis

This precision metalworking program at Southern Careers Institute significantly underperforms both national and state standards, making it a concerning investment. Graduates earn just $25,077 in their first year—nearly $11,000 below the national median for similar programs and $5,000 below the Texas median. The program ranks in only the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile within Texas, meaning 95% of comparable programs nationwide produce better earnings outcomes.

The debt situation offers some relief, with graduates owing $7,125 compared to higher state and national medians around $9,000-$9,500. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, and earnings do grow 16% over four years to $29,162. However, even after four years, graduates still earn less than the first-year median at top Texas programs like Amarillo College ($48,263) or San Jacinto Community College ($42,512).

Given that 73% of students receive Pell grants, many families are likely seeking affordable workforce training. While this program keeps debt low, the poor earnings outcomes suggest your child could likely find better-paying metalworking programs elsewhere in Texas. The robust sample size makes these concerning numbers reliable, not statistical flukes.

Where Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi Stands

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

Southern Careers Institute-Corpus ChristiOther precision metal working programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi graduates compare to all programs nationally

Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi earns $25k — 5th percentile among precision metal working certificate programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi$25,077$29,162+16%
School of Automotive Machinists & Technology$43,065$50,472+17%
Elite Welding Academy$38,717$48,013+24%
San Jacinto Community College$42,512$44,619+5%
Wharton County Junior College$28,408$43,137+52%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Texas (71 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Southern Careers Institute-Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi—$25,077$29,162$7,1250.28
Amarillo CollegeAmarillo$2,136$48,263———
School of Automotive Machinists & TechnologyHouston—$43,065$50,472$16,3540.38
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena$1,992$42,512$44,619——
Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands$3,090$40,863$28,942$4,5620.11
Austin Community College DistrictAustin$2,550$39,261$43,110$15,8180.40
National Median—$36,248—$9,0000.25

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 Southern Careers Institute-Corpus Christi, approximately 73% 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 766 graduates with reported earnings and 833 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.