Precision Metal Working (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,568

59th percentile

60th percentile in California

Est. Median Debt

$8,023

Est. from CA median (5 programs)

Analysis

Universal Technical Institute-Southern California's precision metal working program delivers $37,568 in first-year earnings—slightly above both the national and California medians for this field. While that puts graduates ahead of most comparable programs, it's worth noting that top-performing California schools like Santa Ana College are producing outcomes over $45,000, suggesting the ceiling in this trade is higher than what UTI students are reaching.

The debt picture looks manageable. Based on similar programs at this institution, students likely graduate with around $8,000 in debt, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21—well within the range where technical training typically pays off quickly. With 56% of students receiving Pell grants, this program appears to serve working-class families who need credentials that lead directly to employment, and the quick payback period fits that need.

For parents evaluating whether this is the right precision metal working program, the key question is whether UTI's specific training justifies choosing it over community college alternatives that cost less upfront. The earnings are solid and the estimated debt is reasonable, but this isn't the top-performing program in California. If your child is already committed to this trade and wants UTI's particular industry connections, the numbers work. If price is the main concern, explore Santa Ana College or similar community college options that appear to produce better outcomes at lower cost.

Where Universal Technical Institute-Southern California Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Universal Technical Institute-Southern California graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (87 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Universal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaLong Beach	—	$37,568	—	$8,023*	—
Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana	$1,180	$45,864	—	—*	—
The Fab SchoolRancho Cucamonga	—	$39,592	$36,707	$4,449*	0.11
NTMA Machinist Career CollegeSanta Fe Springs	—	$38,259	$42,216	$8,418*	0.22
Universal Technical Institute of California IncRancho Cucamonga	—	$37,568	—	$10,593*	0.28
Summit CollegeSan Bernardino	—	$37,502	$42,958	$7,600*	0.20
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 Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, approximately 56% 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.