Location: Thomasville, GA•In-State Tuition: $3,122•Out-of-State Tuition: $5,522
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,340
Est. from GA median (12 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$7,913
Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable precision metal working programs in Georgia, this certificate looks like a solid vocational investment. The estimated first-year earnings of $37,340 closely track the state median, while the estimated debt of $7,913 sits notably below what typical Georgia programs carry ($10,500). That 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly two and a half months of their first year's salary—represents manageable borrowing for career training that gets students working quickly.

The tougher question is whether Southern Regional can match the outcomes of Georgia's stronger programs. Top technical colleges in the state report first-year earnings pushing into the low-to-mid $40,000s for their precision metal working graduates. If this school's actual outcomes fall toward the lower end of the state range rather than matching the median we're using here, that gap matters—it's the difference between $37,000 and potentially $45,000 annually for essentially the same credential and training time.

For families where a four-year degree isn't the right fit or immediate employment is a priority, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. But push the school's career services office hard for placement data and actual starting wages their graduates command. With 25 programs competing across Georgia, you want confidence this one delivers outcomes worth the investment, not just average projections.

Where Southern Regional Technical College Stands

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

Southern Regional Technical College (estimated ±10%)Other precision metal working programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (25 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Southern Regional Technical CollegeThomasville$3,122$37,340*—$7,913*—
North Georgia Technical CollegeClarkesville$3,162$45,472*$45,977—*—
Coastal Pines Technical CollegeWaycross$3,040$43,040*$41,494—*—
Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah$3,072$41,604*$38,846—*—
Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville$3,356$40,124*$48,312—*—
Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeSandersville$3,201$38,673*$34,017—*—
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 Southern Regional Technical College, approximately 44% 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 12 similar programs in GA. Actual outcomes may vary.