Precision Metal Working at SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

At $39,059 in first-year earnings, SUNY Delhi's precision metal working program trails both state and national benchmarks by a few thousand dollars—not disastrous, but enough to matter when you're starting a skilled trades career. Among New York's ten precision metal working programs, this lands right around the middle of the pack, with SUNY Alfred showing what's possible at nearly $43,000. The $12,000 debt load is exactly average for this field, which means the real question is whether slightly below-average earnings justify the time and cost investment.

The 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment—you're looking at debt equal to about four months of salary. However, earning $2,000-3,000 less annually than competitors matters more in precision manufacturing than it might in higher-earning fields, since every dollar counts when building financial stability. Delhi's accessible admissions and high Pell grant enrollment indicate the school serves students who need trades training to work, making that earnings gap more significant.

The straightforward takeaway: This program gets you trained and employed without crushing debt, but SUNY Alfred offers notably stronger earnings outcomes in the same SUNY system. If location flexibility exists, comparing both programs makes sense before committing.