How much do Precision Metal Working associate's degree graduates from Texas State Technical College earn?

The reported median is $57,743 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $9,168.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 2% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Precision Metal Working associate's degree at Texas State Technical College

Waco, TX · 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 close to similar programs.

$1,292 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 15.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $18,715 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +9% · Positive 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$37,430

$8,000Annual price+$21,430

$14,000Current college-wide context+$9,430

$16,000Annual price+$5,430

$24,000Annual price−$10,570

$32,000Annual price−$26,570

$40,000Annual price−$42,570

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+39%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$39,234 → $54,576

52Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

70Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

79Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

155Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent 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.

628Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

73Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

463Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

216Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

27.6%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 156 non-completers

79Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$33,298Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$57,743$24,445 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$13,508

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

02 · BORROWING$9,168

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$57,743

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$97/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,508Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$20,752Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context

COMPLETION RATE45.5%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.

$39,234Year 1

$57,743Year 4

$54,576Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.0% 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$4,812

Estimated loan payment$97

155borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$57,743 vs. $56,451

$1,292 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$45,560 median wageTX estimate · 1,410 jobs · 51-4199$38,830–$50,690 middle 50% of TX wages-7.1% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMachinists$59,180 median wageTX estimate · 21,700 jobs · 51-4041$47,630–$69,800 middle 50% of TX 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$49,660 median wageTX estimate · 1,680 jobs · 51-4023$41,340–$58,300 middle 50% of TX wages-8.3% projected U.S. growth · 1,900 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMultiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,050 median wageTX estimate · 10,540 jobs · 51-4081$39,460–$80,110 middle 50% of TX wages+0.6% projected U.S. growth · 11,600 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentStructural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$48,490 median wageTX estimate · 4,440 jobs · 51-2041$42,420–$58,740 middle 50% of TX wages-6.2% projected U.S. growth · 4,800 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,480 median wageTX estimate · 13,190 jobs · 51-9161$39,380–$59,760 middle 50% of TX wages-9.4% projected U.S. growth · 12,500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentLayout Workers, Metal and Plastic$48,220 median wageTX estimate · 190 jobs · 51-4192$39,980–$53,190 middle 50% of TX wages-3.4% projected U.S. growth · 500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentCutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,720 median wageTX estimate · 13,290 jobs · 51-4031$36,940–$47,460 middle 50% of TX wages-10.5% projected U.S. growth · 13,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentGrinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$42,250 median wageTX estimate · 2,960 jobs · 51-4033$36,920–$46,460 middle 50% of TX wages-10.8% projected U.S. growth · 4,500 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentHeat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$41,690 median wageTX estimate · 1,450 jobs · 51-4191$28,210–$60,130 middle 50% of TX wages-9.5% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentComputer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$69,550 median wageTX estimate · 1,930 jobs · 51-9162$58,230–$81,210 middle 50% of TX wages+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 2,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Postsecondary nondegree awardModel Makers, Metal and Plastic$65,920 median wageTX estimate · 230 jobs · 51-4061$47,260–$98,220 middle 50% of TX wages-17.3% projected U.S. growth · 200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent

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