Best colleges for Precision Metal Working in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Advanced Technology Institute, Brightpoint Community College and Central Virginia Community College are the top Precision Metal Working programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Advanced Technology Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,656, College Scorecard. Tidewater Tech-Trades, Central Virginia Community College and New River Community College award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Virginia: 257, 202 and 94 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Virginia colleges offer Precision Metal Working and award 1,305 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 | Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach Private for-profit · Certificate | $43,656 | 71 | 79% | $19,848 | $12,674 |
| 2 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public · Certificate | $39,273 | 63 | 38% | — | — |
| 3 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public · Certificate | $37,281 | 202 | 45% | — | $8,625 |
| 4 | Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville Public · Certificate | $37,030 | 62 | 42% | — | — |
| 5 | Tidewater Tech-Trades Norfolk Private for-profit · Certificate | $32,269 | 257 | 71% | $25,765 | $9,500 |
| 6 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Certificate | $23,785 | 92 | 32% | — | $8,455 |
| 7 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public · Certificate | $22,788 | 33 | 40% | — | — |
| 8 | Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon Public · Certificate | $21,472 | 59 | 40% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Precision Metal Working degrees in Virginia
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 | Tidewater Tech-Trades Norfolk Private for-profit | 257 | $32,269 |
| 2 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public | 202 | $37,281 |
| 3 | New River Community College Dublin Public | 94 | Not reported |
| 4 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public | 92 | $23,785 |
| 5 | Southside Virginia Community College Alberta Public | 73 | Not reported |
| 6 | Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach Private for-profit | 71 | $43,656 |
| 7 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public | 63 | $39,273 |
| 8 | Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville Public | 62 | $37,030 |
| 9 | Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon Public | 59 | $21,472 |
| 10 | Danville Community College Danville Public | 57 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Virginia colleges offering Precision Metal Working
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Public | 55 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | 53 |
| Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Public | 53 |
| Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Public | 33 |
| Centura College - Newport News | Newport News | Private for-profit | 27 |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Melfa | Public | 21 |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Clifton Forge | Public | 11 |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | 10 |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Public | 9 |
| Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin | Public | 3 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211).
Top skills
What Sheet Metal Workers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Precision Metal Working programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Precision Metal Working degrees?+
Tidewater Tech-Trades (257 graduates a year), Central Virginia Community College (202 graduates a year) and New River Community College (94 graduates a year) award the most Precision Metal Working degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Virginia colleges offer Precision Metal Working.
What is the best college for Precision Metal Working in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Advanced Technology Institute leads among Precision Metal Working programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,656, College Scorecard. Brightpoint Community College and Central Virginia Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Tidewater Tech-Trades is the largest, with 257 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Precision Metal Working program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Advanced Technology Institute tops the list at $43,656. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers in Virginia is $55,090 (median $52,220), across about 4,520 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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