Precision Metal Working at Washington State College of Ohio

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 is solid territory for a technical credential—graduates would need to set aside just over three months of their first year's salary to clear the debt, assuming they paid it all at once. Based on comparable precision metalworking programs nationally, this field produces first-year earnings around $41,500 with typical debt near $12,000. The statewide picture in Ohio suggests slightly lower earnings (closer to $39,000) but also considerably less debt at many programs, so Washington State College appears to fall somewhere in the middle of the Ohio landscape.

What matters most is whether this credential leads to stable employment in a field with clear career progression. Precision metalworking serves industries that consistently need skilled workers—aerospace, automotive, medical device manufacturing. The technical nature of the work means employers often value hands-on training over four-year degrees, which helps explain why the debt burden here stays manageable. The 27% Pell grant rate suggests this program serves students from varied economic backgrounds, many of whom may be career-changers or working adults.

The estimation here stems from small graduate cohorts, not data quality issues, which is common for specialized technical programs at smaller schools. If your child has genuine interest in manufacturing or machining work, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. Before committing, visit the campus to see the equipment they're training on and ask about employer partnerships—those connections often matter more than the exact debt figure.