Precision Metal Working at Vincennes University
IN · Associate's Degree · CIP 48.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Precision Metal Working degree from Vincennes University earn a median salary of $66,562 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $73,631. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$54,826
Typical Career
$66,562
Top Performers
$84,990
Estimated break-even: 6.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$444
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,547. Most students can comfortably afford about a $444 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Indiana buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Public Administration.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$73,631
Nominal: $66,562 in Indiana (COL 90.4% of national avg) · 10.6% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $40,010 | $50,311 | $62,314 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $54,826 | $66,562 | $84,990 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $67,307 | $80,886 | $96,340 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $66,562 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IN, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.4% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $66,562 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9040)
= $73,631 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 56.5% of graduates entering this field, followed by 32.4% and 25.7% in similar sectors. This concentration suggests a strong demand for skills acquired in the Precision Metal Working program. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 9.3 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for those pursuing this educational path, particularly given the stable career opportunities in growing industries.
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Other Degrees at Vincennes University
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.