Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Kirkwood Community College, Marshalltown Community College and Hawkeye Community College are the top Precision Metal Working programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Kirkwood Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,114, College Scorecard. Des Moines Area Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College District and Marshalltown Community College award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Iowa: 523, 117 and 95 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Iowa colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 1,365 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 8 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 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public · Associate degree | $48,114 | 84 | 43% | — | $13,500 |
| 2 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown Public · Certificate | $45,972 | 95 | 42% | — | — |
| 3 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo Public · Certificate | $45,509 | 85 | 43% | — | $7,874 |
| 4 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public · Certificate | $41,613 | 36 | 50% | — | $7,910 |
| 5 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public · Certificate | $39,397 | 523 | 39% | — | $5,500 |
| 6 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public · Certificate | $27,761 | 77 | 40% | — | $5,500 |
| 7 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge Public · Certificate | $27,404 | 54 | 42% | — | — |
| 8 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar Public · Certificate Small program | $43,588 | 19 | 51% | — | $5,479 |
Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Iowa
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 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 523 | $39,397 |
| 2 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public | 117 | Not reported |
| 3 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown Public | 95 | $45,972 |
| 4 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City Public | 88 | Not reported |
| 5 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo Public | 85 | $45,509 |
| 6 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public | 84 | $48,114 |
| 7 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public | 77 | $27,761 |
| 8 | Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa Public | 66 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington Public | 55 | Not reported |
| 10 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge Public | 54 | $27,404 |
ShowHide the other 6 Iowa colleges offering Precision Metal Working
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Public | 36 |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston | Public | 33 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Public | 19 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | Public | 14 |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | Public | 11 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | 8 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211).
Top skills
What Sheet Metal Workers earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Precision Metal Working degrees?+
Des Moines Area Community College (523 graduates a year), Eastern Iowa Community College District (117 graduates a year) and Marshalltown Community College (95 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Iowa colleges offer Precision Metal Working.
What is the best college for Precision Metal Working in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Kirkwood Community College leads among Precision Metal Working programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,114, College Scorecard. Marshalltown Community College and Hawkeye Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Des Moines Area Community College is the largest, with 523 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Precision Metal Working program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Kirkwood Community College tops the list at $48,114. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Iowa is $65,480 (median $66,460), across about 1,650 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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