Precision Metal Working at Vincennes University

Vincennes's precision metal working certificate costs $9,863 in typical debt—close to what similar programs in Indiana charge—but the earnings picture here relies entirely on national estimates since this program's graduate cohort is too small for the DOE to publish actual outcomes. Similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,000, though Indiana metal working programs typically do better, with the state median at $39,500 and Ivy Tech graduates earning nearly $42,000. Whether Vincennes's graduates track closer to national averages or match the stronger Indiana numbers remains unclear without actual data.

The four-year earnings figure of $48,676 does appear in the data, suggesting decent wage growth if graduates stay in the field. At roughly $10,000 in debt, the financial risk is manageable even at the lower national estimate—you're looking at less than three months' salary to repay. But the fact that Vincennes serves very few Pell recipients (just 9% versus typical community college rates above 40%) and has too few graduates to report raises questions about the program's stability and whether it's being actively recruited.

The comparison schools give you clearer targets: Ivy Tech operates statewide with documented outcomes above $40,000, while Lincoln Tech in Indianapolis reports graduates earning $37,000. If your child is serious about metal working in Indiana, those programs offer transparency this one can't. Vincennes might work equally well, but you're making that bet without the data other families have access to.