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2025 Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools

78 Colleges in the United States
4,936 Associate Degrees
$41,972 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #30 in popularity, precision metal working is one of the most sought-after associate degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 78 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 4,936 associate degrees in precision metal working during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Precision Metal Working School for Your Associate Degree

Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools The precision metal working associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality precision metal working program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Early-Career Salaries

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their associate degree from the school. After all, your associate degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for precision metal working students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Precision Metal Working Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Precision Metal Working in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in precision metal working. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

12 Top Schools for an Associate in Precision Metal Working

1
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College is a great choice for students interested in an associate degree in precision metal working. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

Associate recipients from the precision metal working degree program at Ivy Tech Community College get $14,320 more than the standard college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Ivy Tech Community College

2

Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in precision metal working has to check out Texas State Technical College. Located in the midsize city of Waco, TSTC is a public college with a large student population.

Soon after graduation, precision metal working associate recipients usually earn an average of $39,234 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Texas State Technical College

3
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN

Hennepin Technical College is a good choice for individuals interested in an associate degree in precision metal working. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Precision Metal Working associate degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College receive an earnings boost of approximately $17,857 over the typical earnings of precision metal working majors.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Hennepin Technical College

4
32 Annual Graduates

Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is a wonderful decision for students pursuing an associate degree in precision metal working. Located in the city of Wichita, WSU Tech is a public university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in precision metal working from Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology

5

Located in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a public college with a small student population.

Associate recipients from the precision metal working major at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology get $10,326 above the standard college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

6

LATI is a small public school located in the remote town of Watertown.

Students who graduate with their associate from the precision metal working program report average early career earnings of $43,436.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Lake Area Technical Institute

7
14 Annual Graduates

WCTC is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of Pewaukee.More information about a associate in precision metal working from Waukesha County Technical College

8

Located in the large city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Precision Metal Working associate degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area get an earnings boost of around $7,142 over the typical earnings of precision metal working majors.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Southeast Community College Area

9

FVTC is a large public college located in the suburb of Appleton.

Associate recipients from the precision metal working program at Fox Valley Technical College earn $10,477 more than the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Fox Valley Technical College

10
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Located in the remote town of Big Rapids, Ferris is a public university with a medium-sized student population.

Associate recipients from the precision metal working program at Ferris State University get $14,839 above the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Ferris State University

11
67 Annual Graduates
$50,402 Median Starting Salary
$27,500 Median Student Debt

Penn College is a small public college located in the city of Williamsport.

Precision Metal Working associate degree recipients from Pennsylvania College of Technology earn a boost of about $8,430 above the average earnings of precision metal working graduates.

More information about a associate in precision metal working from Pennsylvania College of Technology

12
8 Annual Graduates

North Central Technical College is a moderately-sized public college located in the small city of Wausau.More information about a associate in precision metal working from Northcentral Technical College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
12 Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI
13 Vincennes University Vincennes, IN
14 Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO
15 Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN
16 State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO
17 Central Community College Grand Island, NE
18 Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MN
19 Aims Community College Greeley, CO
20 Ridgewater College Willmar, MN
23 St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN

Precision Metal Working by Region

View the Best Precision Metal Working Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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One of 5 majors within the Precision Production area of study, Precision Metal Working has other similar majors worth exploring.

Precision Metal Working Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Welding Technology/Welder 3,294
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist 749
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist 316
Tool & Die Technology/Technician 187
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant 145
Ironworking/Ironworker 90
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking 68
Metal Fabricator 62
Other Precision Metal Working 25

Related Major Annual Graduates
Woodworking 82
Other Precision Production 42
Boilermaking 7
Precision Production Trades 2
Leatherworking & Upholstery 1

Notes and References

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