Certificate (under 1 year)+8% vs national median737 grads tracked
Precision Production at Lone Star College System
Ranked 33rd of 150 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Precision Production by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,906
middle 50%: $28,238 – $60,095
Median · 5 years out
$58,858
middle 50%: $37,967 – $79,651
Median · 10 years out
$71,441
middle 50%: $46,777 – $102,715
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Precision Production (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Precision Production graduates see a $41k median salary in year one. Earnings climb to $59k after five years and $71k after ten years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.2 yrs
≈ $8,278 total interest
Same major at other universities
Quinebaug Valley Community College
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Lamar Institute of Technology
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Victoria College
$60,508 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$59,966 · 5 yrs out
South Central College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Midlands Technical College
$59,476 · 5 yrs out
Naugatuck Valley Community College
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana- Region 3
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Tyler Junior College
$58,227 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$58,227 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$57,917 · 5 yrs out
Mt. Hood Community College
$57,910 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Lone Star College System
Fire Protection (Associate)
$108,135 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$88,842 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$87,304 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$82,784 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$81,191 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$77,306 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$75,144 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$75,144 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$72,466 · 5 yrs out