Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degree) at SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Analysis

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.

Where SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How SUNY College of Technology at Delhi graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in New York

Precision Metal Working associates's programs at peer institutions in New York (10 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
SUNY College of Technology at DelhiDelhi	$8,710	$39,059	—	$12,000	0.31
SUNY College of Technology at AlfredAlfred	$8,862	$42,739	$48,923	$12,000	0.28
Monroe Community CollegeRochester	$5,856	$40,155	$41,092	—	—
National Median	—	$41,504	—	$12,000	0.29

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 SUNY College of Technology at Delhi, approximately 46% 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 30 graduates with reported earnings and 28 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.