Location: Newton, NJ•In-State Tuition: $5,544•Out-of-State Tuition: $9,024
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,249
Est. from NJ median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$7,913
Est. from national median (94 programs)

Analysis

With an estimated debt load around $7,900—lower than both the New Jersey median ($9,429) and national median ($9,000)—this certificate program appears to keep borrowing manageable. Similar precision metal working programs in New Jersey suggest first-year earnings around $37,200, which translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21. That means graduates would owe roughly 2.5 months of their first year's salary, a reasonable starting point for a credential that can be completed quickly.

The earnings estimate aligns closely with what peer programs across the state typically produce, hovering near the national median of $36,200. While top-performing New Jersey programs reach nearly $39,100, even the lower end of the range still puts graduates well above minimum wage in a skilled trade. The 35% Pell grant population suggests Sussex County serves students for whom this kind of affordable, practical training could make economic sense.

The real question is whether this specific school delivers outcomes matching its peers, since we're working with estimates rather than reported data for Sussex County graduates. The favorable debt picture gives you some cushion if earnings fall short of the state average. For a student ready to work with their hands and seeking quick entry into manufacturing, this represents a lower-risk bet than many certificate programs—assuming the training quality matches what comparable New Jersey schools provide.

Where Sussex County Community College Stands

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

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

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

Compare to Similar Programs in New Jersey

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

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Sussex County Community CollegeNewton$5,544$37,249*—$7,913*—
Universal Technical Institute-BloomfieldBloomfield—$39,141*——*—
Lincoln Technical Institute-South PlainfieldSouth Plainfield—$37,249*$42,279$9,429*0.25
Lincoln Technical Institute-MahwahMahwah—$37,249*$42,279$9,429*0.25
Hohokus School of Trade and Technical SciencesPaterson—$26,736*$47,845$7,600*0.28
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 Sussex County Community College, approximately 35% 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 4 similar programs in NJ. Actual outcomes may vary.