Location: Rapid City, SD•In-State Tuition: $8,008
Median Earnings (1yr)
$44,614
92nd percentile
Median Debt
$9,125
1% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.20 ManageableSample: 16 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Western Dakota Technical College's precision metal working program launches graduates into strong immediate earnings at $44,614—substantially above the national median of $36,248 and ranking in the 92nd percentile nationally. With debt under $10,000, the upfront investment looks reasonable. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers may not be representative, and South Dakota has only three schools offering this program, limiting meaningful state-level comparisons.

The concerning element is the earnings trajectory: graduates see an 18% decline to $36,414 by year four. This backward slide could reflect industry volatility in the region, graduates moving into different roles, or simply noise from the limited data. It's worth investigating whether this drop is typical for metal working careers in South Dakota or specific to this program's outcomes.

For a family comfortable with the debt load and focused on immediate employment, this program delivers solid starting pay with minimal borrowing. But the earnings decline raises questions about long-term career progression. Given the data limitations, talk directly with program administrators about job placement patterns and whether recent graduates are staying in the field—their insights will matter more than these unstable statistics.

Where Western Dakota Technical College Stands

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

Western Dakota Technical CollegeOther precision metal working programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Western Dakota Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Western Dakota Technical College earns $45k — 92th percentile among precision metal working certificate programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Western Dakota Technical College$44,614$36,414-18%
Ferris State University$68,852$74,137+8%
Alexandria Technical & Community College$51,141$55,483+8%
Idaho State University$64,581$55,405-14%
Madison Area Technical College$37,860$53,952+43%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City$8,008$44,614$36,414$9,1250.20
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids$13,630$68,852$74,137$21,7650.32
Idaho State UniversityPocatello$8,356$64,581$55,405$9,0000.14
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green$4,656$58,996—$9,4130.16
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton$4,916$53,507$52,715$7,6640.14
Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown$4,656$53,172—$7,1660.13
National Median—$36,248—$9,0000.25

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 Western Dakota Technical College, approximately 28% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 16 graduates with reported earnings and 22 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.