Location: La Crosse, WI•In-State Tuition: $4,716•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,909
Median Earnings (1yr)
$40,624
77th percentile
40th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$5,500
39% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.14 ManageableSample: 24 graduates Limited data

Analysis

The $5,500 in typical debt here is remarkably low—putting Western Technical in the 90th percentile nationally for affordability—but the earnings tell a more complicated Wisconsin story. While graduates earn well above the national median for precision metal working programs ($40,624 vs. $36,248 nationally), they land below the state median of $41,852. Within Wisconsin's technical college system, this program ranks in the bottom half, with nearby competitors like Fox Valley Technical and Chippewa Valley Technical delivering starting salaries $8,000-$13,000 higher.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14 means graduates owe just 1.7 months of salary—an extremely manageable burden that gets easier as earnings grow to $46,000 by year four. For students who specifically need Western Technical's location or schedule, the low debt makes this a reasonable path into skilled manufacturing work. But Wisconsin families should recognize that stronger-performing precision metal working programs exist at other state technical colleges, often with similarly affordable tuition structures.

Keep in mind the small graduate sample size means individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. For a student committed to staying in the La Crosse area where Western Technical operates, the minimal debt and steady career trajectory outweigh the earnings gap. Families with flexibility on location should compare financial aid packages across Wisconsin's technical colleges.

Where Western Technical College Stands

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

Western Technical CollegeOther precision metal working programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Western Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Western Technical College earns $41k — 77th 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 Technical College$40,624$45,986+13%
Madison Area Technical College$37,860$53,952+43%
Fox Valley Technical College$53,507$52,715-1%
Chippewa Valley Technical College$48,638$51,817+7%
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College$35,167$50,833+45%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Precision Metal Working certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (17 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse$4,716$40,624$45,986$5,5000.14
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton$4,916$53,507$52,715$7,6640.14
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire$4,724$48,638$51,817$8,1090.17
Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland$4,649$48,619$47,025——
Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau$3,861$47,718$45,028$5,2500.11
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville$4,170$44,698$45,468——
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 Technical College, approximately 32% 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 24 graduates with reported earnings and 31 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.