Michigan · Precision Metal Working

Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Michigan

Ranked by graduate earnings

Washtenaw Community College, Ferris State University and Universal Technical Institute - Canton award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Michigan: 116, 73 and 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Michigan colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 913 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…

Institutions
30
offering CIP 48.05
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
913
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$34,042
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,762
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
31%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sheet Metal Workers
$68,100
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Ferris State University
Big Rapids Public · Associate degree
$56,8117347%—$17,500
2Universal Technical Institute - Canton
Canton Private for-profit · Certificate
$33,6366564%$22,762$11,790
3Delta College
University Center Public · Certificate
$34,1129627%——
4Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids Public · Certificate
$34,0429421%—$4,540

Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Michigan

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor Public
116Not reported
2Ferris State University
Big Rapids Public
73$56,811
3Universal Technical Institute - Canton
Canton Private for-profit
65$33,636
4Southwestern Michigan College
Dowagiac Public
33Not reported
5Northern Michigan University
Marquette Public
28Not reported
6Kirtland Community College
Grayling Public
26Not reported
7Bay de Noc Community College
Escanaba Public
16Not reported
8Alpena Community College
Alpena Public
15Not reported
9Mott Community College
Flint Public
10Not reported
10Michigan Career and Technical Institute
Plainwell Public
10Not reported
Show the other 20 Michigan colleges offering Precision Metal Working
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Delta CollegeUniversity CenterPublic96
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand RapidsPublic94
Macomb Community CollegeWarrenPublic84
Lansing Community CollegeLansingPublic47
Jackson CollegeJacksonPublic30
Mid Michigan CollegeHarrisonPublic30
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKalamazooPublic26
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn HillsPublic26
Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse CityPublic16
Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivoniaPublic12
Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegonPublic10
Monroe County Community CollegeMonroePublic9
St Clair County Community CollegePort HuronPublic8
West Shore Community CollegeScottvillePublic8
Kellogg Community CollegeBattle CreekPublic7
Lake Michigan CollegeBenton HarborPublic7
Gogebic Community CollegeIronwoodPublic6
Montcalm Community CollegeSidneyPublic2
North Central Michigan CollegePetoskeyPublic2
Wayne County Community College DistrictDetroitPublic1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~10,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,850
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringMathematicsActive ListeningSpeaking

What Sheet Metal Workers earn in Michigan

Jobs in Michigan
4,000
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$68,100
median $64,490
Best-paying metro
$77,660
Flint, MI

Related careers

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$51,880 avg · 22,060 jobs
Machinists
$55,240 avg · 20,350 jobs
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
$53,820 avg · 13,330 jobs
Tool and Die Makers
$68,670 avg · 9,420 jobs
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
$50,910 avg · 9,350 jobs
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
$49,520 avg · 7,330 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Michigan.

Which Michigan colleges award the most Precision Metal Working degrees?+

Washtenaw Community College (116 graduates a year), Ferris State University (73 graduates a year) and Universal Technical Institute - Canton (65 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Michigan colleges offer Precision Metal Working.

Which Precision Metal Working program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Ferris State University tops the list at $56,811. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Michigan?+

The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Michigan is $68,100 (median $64,490), across about 4,000 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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