Precision Metal Working at Tidewater Tech-Trades

Graduates from this program earn about $32,000 in their first year—roughly $4,000 below both the national and Virginia medians for metal working certificates. While earnings do climb to nearly $37,000 by year four (a respectable 14% increase), that still places this program in the bottom third nationally and just below average among Virginia's 23 metal working programs. The relatively modest debt load of $9,500 keeps the financial risk manageable, with graduates needing less than four months of earnings to cover their educational investment.

The more pressing question is why this program underperforms when several nearby alternatives deliver significantly better outcomes. Advanced Technology Institute graduates earn $43,600—about $10,000 more than Tidewater Tech-Trades graduates in the same field. Even community college options like Brightpoint and Central Virginia produce stronger earnings at likely lower cost. With 69% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on every dollar of earning potential.

For a family considering this program, the debt burden won't be crushing, but you're paying private school prices (even if modest ones) for outcomes that lag behind community college alternatives in your own region. Unless location or scheduling constraints make those options impractical, exploring higher-performing programs first makes financial sense.