Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park, Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc and Lewis and Clark Community College are the top Precision Metal Working programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,408, College Scorecard. Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois, Southwestern Illinois College and College of Lake County award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Illinois: 289, 236 and 209 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 45 Illinois colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 3,459 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Precision Metal Working program focuses on the skills and techniques needed for various metalworking occupations. This program is ideal for students interested in hands-on work involving machinery, fabrication, and assembly of metal…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park Melrose Park Private for-profit · Certificate | $39,408 | 56 | 68% | $25,508 | — |
| 2 | Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc Lisle Private for-profit · Certificate | $37,568 | 128 | 63% | $25,788 | — |
| 3 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public · Certificate | $37,195 | 153 | 44% | — | — |
| 4 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Public · Certificate | $33,298 | 91 | 48% | — | — |
| 5 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public · Certificate | $31,692 | 236 | 36% | — | $6,500 |
| 6 | Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois Springfield Private for-profit · Certificate | $31,630 | 289 | 69% | $28,377 | $9,500 |
| 7 | ETI School of Skilled Trades Willowbrook Private for-profit · Certificate | $31,068 | 109 | 80% | $28,066 | $9,500 |
| 8 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Public · Certificate | $30,893 | 37 | 63% | — | — |
| 9 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Rockford Private for-profit · Certificate | $30,807 | 47 | 66% | $20,078 | $13,000 |
| 10 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public · Certificate | $27,808 | 71 | 58% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois Springfield Private for-profit | 289 | $31,630 |
| 2 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 236 | $31,692 |
| 3 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 209 | Not reported |
| 4 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public | 153 | $37,195 |
| 5 | Illinois Central College East Peoria Public | 152 | Not reported |
| 6 | Sauk Valley Community College Dixon Public | 146 | Not reported |
| 7 | Heartland Community College Normal Public | 141 | Not reported |
| 8 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public | 140 | Not reported |
| 9 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public | 128 | Not reported |
| 10 | Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc Lisle Private for-profit | 128 | $37,568 |
ShowHide the other 35 Illinois colleges offering Precision Metal Working
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211).
Top skills
What Sheet Metal Workers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Precision Metal Working degrees?+
Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois (289 graduates a year), Southwestern Illinois College (236 graduates a year) and College of Lake County (209 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 45 Illinois colleges offer Precision Metal Working.
What is the best college for Precision Metal Working in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park leads among Precision Metal Working programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,408, College Scorecard. Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc and Lewis and Clark Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois is the largest, with 289 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Precision Metal Working program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park tops the list at $39,408. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Illinois is $81,960 (median $86,630), across about 3,260 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Precision Metal Working program?+
The Precision Metal Working program focuses on the skills and techniques needed for various metalworking occupations. This program is ideal for students interested in hands-on work involving machinery, fabrication, and assembly of metal…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, monitoring, mathematics, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Sheet Metal Workers?+
The national job outlook is about +2.4% growth with around 10,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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