Location: Creston, IA•In-State Tuition: $7,024•Out-of-State Tuition: $7,248
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,613
Est. from IA median (7 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$5,500
Est. from IA median (5 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.13 is remarkably strong—similar precision metal working programs in Iowa suggest you'd borrow roughly $5,500 for a certificate that produces first-year earnings around $41,600. That beats both the national median for this field ($36,248) and matches the Iowa state median, putting this program squarely in the middle of what peer schools deliver. With debt you could pay off in months rather than years, the financial fundamentals look solid.

The bigger question is whether these estimated figures reflect Southwestern's actual outcomes. With data suppressed due to small class sizes, we're relying on what comparable Iowa programs report. The top performers in the state—Marshalltown and Hawkeye Community Colleges—show graduates earning $45,000+, suggesting there's meaningful variation even among similar programs. Whether Southwestern lands closer to that upper range or the lower end (Des Moines Area at $39,397) makes a real difference in return on investment.

For a short-term credential leading to skilled manufacturing work, the estimated debt burden is manageable enough that even the lower end of Iowa outcomes would still represent a reasonable investment. But given the uncertainty, it's worth directly asking Southwestern what their typical graduates actually earn and whether local employers actively recruit from their program. The numbers suggest promise—you just need confirmation that this specific program delivers it.

Where Southwestern Community College Stands

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

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

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (15 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Southwestern Community CollegeCreston$7,024$41,613*—$5,500*—
Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown$5,304$45,972*——*—
Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo$6,308$45,509*$44,868$7,874*0.17
Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar$6,600$43,588*$49,983$5,479*0.13
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City$5,042$41,613*—$7,910*0.19
Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny$5,550$39,397*$43,506$5,500*0.14
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 Southwestern Community College, approximately 24% 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 7 similar programs in IA. Actual outcomes may vary.