Precision Metal Working at Triangle Tech Inc-Dubois

Triangle Tech-DuBois gets students into the workforce affordably, but there are stronger options within Pennsylvania's precision metalworking landscape. Starting at $36,352, graduates earn about $5,000 less than the state median for this field, landing around the 40th percentile among PA programs. Compare that to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, where graduates start at $52,298—nearly $16,000 more annually. The bright spot here is debt: at $12,000, it's below Pennsylvania's typical $13,944 and represents just four months of first-year income.

The 23% earnings jump to $44,637 by year four shows this program builds marketable skills, even if the starting point lags. For families prioritizing low debt over maximum earnings potential, that $12,000 figure matters—especially since over half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting this school serves price-sensitive families. But if your child can access Pennsylvania College of Technology or Thaddeus Stevens, which both start graduates $6,000-$16,000 higher, the lifetime earnings difference likely outweighs any modest tuition premium.

The practical question: are you banking on low debt or betting on higher earnings? Triangle Tech-DuBois delivers the former reliably, but Pennsylvania's precision metalworking programs show that comparable associate's degrees can launch graduates into significantly higher pay brackets from day one.