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Precision Metal Working associate's degree at Clark College

Vancouver, WA · 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 notably above similar programs.

$14,053 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
Not available
Highest price with a positive payoff
$82,520 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
+126% · Strong payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$70,504 observed annual earnings · 2 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+7%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$46,609 → $49,937
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
27Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
29Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
18Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
0Recent 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.

70Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
56Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
23Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
41.7%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
31Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,073Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$70,504$31,431 above the preliminary benchmark

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$11,465

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

02 · BORROWINGNot available

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$70,504

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENTNot available

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE PROGRAM REPORTS

7 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 of Achievement · CIP 48.0508

Flux Core Arc Welding

Reported price
$3,200
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning only.
Certificate of Achievement · CIP 48.0508

Gas Metal Arc Welding

Reported price
$3,200
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning only.
Certificate of Achievement · CIP 48.0508

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

Reported price
$3,200
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning only.
Certificate of Achievement · CIP 48.0508

Shielded Metal Arc Welding

Reported price
$3,200
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning only.
Certificate · CIP 48.0508

Welding Tech - SMAW Arc Welding/Oxyfuel Processes

Reported price
$5,159
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning only.
Certificate of Profeciency · CIP 48.0508

Welding Technician

Reported price
$9,467
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning only.
AAT · CIP 48.0508

Welding Technologies

Reported price
$14,267
Completion
Not reported
Employed in Q2
Not reported
Q2 quarterly earnings
Not available
This program provides online instruction, e-learning, or distance learning 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 7 of 7 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$11,465Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,668Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context
COMPLETION RATE39.0%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.

$46,609Year 1
$70,504Year 4
$49,937Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

Repayment pressure is not available

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

Gross monthly earnings$5,875
Estimated loan paymentNot available
18borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$70,504 vs. $56,451

$14,053 above 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$65,760 median wageWA estimate · 360 jobs · 51-4199$48,720–$106,640 middle 50% of WA wages-7.1% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$107,920 median wageWA estimate · 2,270 jobs · 51-9161$73,920–$116,670 middle 50% of WA wages-9.4% projected U.S. growth · 12,500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentLayout Workers, Metal and Plastic$85,300 median wageWA estimate · 500 jobs · 51-4192$63,520–$95,560 middle 50% of WA wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMachinists$66,160 median wageWA estimate · 6,880 jobs · 51-4041$58,760–$80,340 middle 50% of WA wages+1.0% projected U.S. growth · 26,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentRolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$63,560 median wageWA estimate · 350 jobs · 51-4023$47,070–$88,450 middle 50% of WA wages-8.3% projected U.S. growth · 1,900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentHeat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$61,990 median wageWA estimate · 140 jobs · 51-4191$52,560–$80,790 middle 50% of WA wages-9.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentStructural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$61,850 median wageWA estimate · 1,050 jobs · 51-2041$54,820–$76,970 middle 50% of WA wages-6.2% projected U.S. growth · 4,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentCutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,160 median wageWA estimate · 1,750 jobs · 51-4031$46,280–$60,890 middle 50% of WA wages-10.5% projected U.S. growth · 13,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMultiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,540 median wageWA estimate · 830 jobs · 51-4081$45,010–$66,990 middle 50% of WA wages+0.6% projected U.S. growth · 11,600 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentGrinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,300 median wageWA estimate · 1,870 jobs · 51-4033$45,130–$59,250 middle 50% of WA wages-10.8% projected U.S. growth · 4,500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentTool and Die Makers$109,390 median wageWA estimate · 1,510 jobs · 51-4111$70,550–$116,850 middle 50% of WA wages-9.2% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardSheet Metal Workers$98,550 median wageWA estimate · 3,440 jobs · 47-2211$72,220–$134,590 middle 50% of WA wages+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 9,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
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.

Spokane, WA

Spokane Community College

$5,992 lower annual net price

Earnings
$58,458
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$5,473
View outcomes →
Kirkland, WA

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

$4,648 lower annual net price

Earnings
$53,007
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$6,817
View outcomes →
Port Angeles, WA

Peninsula College

$2,219 lower annual net price

Earnings
$38,488
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$9,246
View outcomes →
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University

$16,437 higher earnings · $2,841 lower annual net price

Earnings
$86,941
Debt
$17,500
Annual net price
$8,624
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

29 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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