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Precision Metal Working undergraduate certificate or diploma at Tidewater Community College

Norfolk, VA · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are below similar programs.

$5,082 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
19.4% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
Withheld by data safeguards
Available price data
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+78%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$23,785 → $42,294
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
20Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
35Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
11Recent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

109Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
23Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
61Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
15Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
33.8%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 23 non-completers
Preliminary federal earnings benchmarkNot availableInformational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$43,620A like-for-like comparison is unavailable

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$11,762

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$8,455

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$43,620

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$90/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE PROGRAM REPORTS

9 related offerings reported to the Department of Labor

These provider-reported records add named prices, completion and employment context where available. They describe a separate workforce-program cohort and may include non-degree training, so they are not blended into the College Scorecard earnings or DegreeVerdict ROI.

Certificate · CIP 48.0506

Marine Trade Training: Sheet Metal - Level 1

Reported price
$2,400
Completion
100.0%
Employed in Q2
92.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$11,290
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Certificate · CIP 48.0508

Marine Welding Level 1

Reported price
$3,900
Completion
82.0%
Employed in Q2
85.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$7,565
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Certificate · CIP 48.0508

Marine Welding Level 2

Reported price
$3,900
Completion
81.0%
Employed in Q2
82.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$7,716
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Certificate · CIP 48.0508

Marine Welding Level 3

Reported price
$3,900
Completion
84.0%
Employed in Q2
79.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$8,608
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Certificate · CIP 48.0508

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)

Reported price
$4,131
Completion
99.0%
Employed in Q2
62.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$5,847
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Career Studies Certificate · CIP 48.0501

Basic Machining

Reported price
$4,466
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Certificate · CIP 48.0508

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

Reported price
$5,850
Completion
90.0%
Employed in Q2
80.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$9,061
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Certificate · CIP 48.0508

WeldNow (SMAW)

Reported price
$6,500
Completion
89.0%
Employed in Q2
50.0%
Q2 quarterly earnings
$6,376
This program provides in-person instruction only.
Program year 2022. Quarterly earnings are not annual salary. Suppressed values appear as “Not reported.” Source: U.S. Department of Labor TrainingProviderResults.gov. Showing 8 of 9 related records.
WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$11,762Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,788Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context
COMPLETION RATE31.7%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$23,785Year 1
$43,620Year 4
$42,294Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.5% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,635
Estimated loan payment$90
35borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$43,620 vs. $48,702

$5,082 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$51,690 median wageVA estimate · 130 jobs · 51-4199$41,180–$83,210 middle 50% of VA wages-7.1% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentLayout Workers, Metal and Plastic$70,260 median wageVA estimate · 1,080 jobs · 51-4192$54,970–$93,600 middle 50% of VA wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMachinists$61,290 median wageVA estimate · 5,660 jobs · 51-4041$49,900–$71,470 middle 50% of VA wages+1.0% projected U.S. growth · 26,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentHeat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,070 median wageVA estimate · 190 jobs · 51-4191$46,730–$68,260 middle 50% of VA wages-9.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentStructural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$53,940 median wageVA estimate · 1,220 jobs · 51-2041$47,230–$65,240 middle 50% of VA wages-6.2% projected U.S. growth · 4,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMultiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,600 median wageVA estimate · 1,030 jobs · 51-4081$42,820–$59,980 middle 50% of VA wages+0.6% projected U.S. growth · 11,600 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49,590 median wageVA estimate · 1,890 jobs · 51-9161$44,660–$58,850 middle 50% of VA wages-9.4% projected U.S. growth · 12,500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentCutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,300 median wageVA estimate · 1,790 jobs · 51-4031$41,380–$52,890 middle 50% of VA wages-10.5% projected U.S. growth · 13,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentRolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,450 median wageVA estimate · 450 jobs · 51-4023$42,340–$57,800 middle 50% of VA wages-8.3% projected U.S. growth · 1,900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentGrinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,170 median wageVA estimate · 620 jobs · 51-4033$34,760–$47,830 middle 50% of VA wages-10.8% projected U.S. growth · 4,500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentDrilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$90,390 median wageVA estimate · 100 jobs · 51-4032$43,570–$90,390 middle 50% of VA wages-9.5% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$74,390 median wageVA estimate · 330 jobs · 51-9162$58,570–$87,020 middle 50% of VA wages+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Lynchburg, VA

Central Virginia Community College

$11,378 higher earnings · $4,834 lower annual net price

Earnings
$54,998
Debt
$8,625
Annual net price
$6,928
View outcomes →
Danville, VA

Danville Community College

$11,343 higher earnings · $5,093 lower annual net price

Earnings
$54,963
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$6,669
View outcomes →
Roanoke, VA

Virginia Western Community College

$9,658 higher earnings · $6,796 lower annual net price

Earnings
$53,278
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$4,966
View outcomes →
Chester, VA

Brightpoint Community College

$9,372 higher earnings · $6,272 lower annual net price

Earnings
$52,992
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$5,490
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

20 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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