Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College

Analysis

Stautzenberger's precision metal working program sits right at Illinois's median for earnings ($30,807 versus $31,661 statewide), but that's actually concerning when you see what other schools deliver. Several community colleges and technical institutes in Illinois consistently place graduates $6,000-8,000 higher within the first year. While the debt load is admirably low at $13,000—better than most competitors—the earnings gap means you're still looking at nearly six months of gross pay just to cover educational costs.

The 40th percentile ranking among Illinois programs tells the real story: this is a below-average outcome in a state with 47 options. With 72% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are making significant financial sacrifices for training that delivers bottom-quartile results nationally. Lincoln College of Technology in Melrose Park and even several community colleges place graduates earning $7,000-9,000 more annually, which compounds dramatically over a career in the trades.

If your child is set on this field in the Rockford area, the low debt makes this survivable—but not optimal. You're essentially paying for geographic convenience rather than outcomes. Community colleges with strong manufacturing partnerships would likely deliver better ROI, even if it means a longer commute during training.

Where Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (47 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeRockford	$16,699	$30,807	—	$13,000	0.42
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkMelrose Park	—	$39,408	—	—	—
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois IncLisle	—	$37,568	—	—	—
Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey	$3,552	$37,195	$34,731	—	—
Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield	$3,672	$33,298	—	—	—
Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville	$3,870	$31,692	$38,940	$6,500	0.21
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 Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College, approximately 72% 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 76 graduates with reported earnings and 89 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.