So, you have decided to try the world of welding! Great choice.
Welding is an excellent career that offers a wide range of opportunities in various industries such as construction, manufacturing, and even art.
If you’re looking to pursue a career in welding, the first step is to find the right school. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for you.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive list of welding trade schools and offer tips on how to pick the right one.
Whether you’re a recent high school graduate or looking to change careers, we’ve got you covered.
So, let’s dive in and explore the exciting world of welding education!
Best Welding Schools
All of the welding trade schools here were sourced from the IPEDS database or with manual research. These are all programs that are 2-years or less.
There are 4-year universities that offer welding programs as well, but those are not listed here. Our goal is to introduce you to trade programs where the cost is typically less than college, and the environment may be more in line with what you are looking for.
Tri-Rivers Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Alabama Pipe Welders Academy
Job Placement: No
Details:
With a 5:1 student teacher ratio, this plumbing school is a great opportunity to learn how to become a plumber on a deeper level. Each student gets the attention and education needed, from the basics to advanced courses that will turn you into a true craftsman.
The Alabama Pipe Welders Academy also immerses students into 12 “real life” scenarios to help prepare you for what is to come.
Fortis College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $19,417.00
Details:
Fortis offers programs in several states across the country. Each location may differ in the programs they offer so be sure to check the school location and see what programs they offer.
School details shown here are for Mobile, Alabama.
J F Ingram State Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $4,212.00
Reid State Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $931.00
Madison County Career Tech Center
Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $12,365
Western Maricopa Education Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
East Valley Institute of Technology
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Refrigeration School Inc
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $20,819.00
Rio Salado College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,426.00
Pulaski Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,746
Job Placement: Yes
Arkansas Welding Academy
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $23,836.00
Ozarka College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $6,063.00
Black River Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $8,133.00
Arkansas Northeastern College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $4,678.00
Southeast Arkansas College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $8,069.00
Advanced Career Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $16,948.00
Institute of Technology
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $21,178.00
Summit College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $28,471.00
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $3,221.00
Universal Technical Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $23,474.00
Details:
Universal Technical Institute has several locations across the United States. Each location offers programs in different trade skills which include automotive, welding, motorcycle, and even Nascar! Visit their main website to find the location and program that is right for you!
School data shown on this listing is for the Southern California location.
Riverside City College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,161.00
Saddleback College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,918.00
San Joaquin Delta College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $17,503.00
Santa Rosa Junior College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,220.00
Sierra College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $5,921.00
Sacramento City College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,788.00
Lincoln College of Technology
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $38,374.00
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $22,272.00
Pickens Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,180.00
Northeastern Junior College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $12,929.00
Otero Junior College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $12,664.00
Bristol Technical Education Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $3,174.00
Porter and Chester Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $24,035.00
Details:
Porter and Chester has several locations throughout Connecticut.
Fort Myers Technical College
Housing: No
Job Placement: Yes
Lively Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,351.00
Big Bend Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $10,294.00
Radford M Locklin Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $3,333.00
Southern Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $19,397.00
First Coast Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $19,231.00
Treasure Coast Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $3,588.00
Atlantic Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,693.00
Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,359.00
William T McFatter Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,094.00
Erwin Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,982.00
Pinellas Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $3,353.00
Lorenzo Walker Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,795.00
Lake Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,817.00
Marion Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,080.00
Manatee Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $4,233.00
George Stone Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,643.00
Riveroak Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,930.00
Okaloosa Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,618.00
Traviss Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,128.00
Ridge Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $16,194.00
North Georgia Technical College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $5,401
Job Placement: Yes
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,158.00
Atlanta Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Ogeechee Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $5,451.00
Southeastern Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,406.00
North Georgia Technical College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $5,401.00
Athens Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,410.00
Augusta Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,887.00
Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $3,826.00
Savannah Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,684.00
Coastal Pines Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $2,331.00
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,030.00
Albany Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,844.00
Columbus Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,368.00
ETI School of Skilled Trades
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $25,209.00
Washburn Institute of Technology
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,807.00
Moore Career College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $16,653.00
North American Trade Schools
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,444.00
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $34,491.00
Anoka Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,407.00
Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $13,454.00
Midwest Technical Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $21,345.00
Mineral Area College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $9,775.00
Three Rivers College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $9,018.00
State Technical College of Missouri
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $7,361.00
Apex Technical School
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $14,872.00
Modern Welding School
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $18,825.00
Williston State College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $9,477.00
Lynnes Welding Training
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $10,330.00
Details:
Lynnes Welding has locations in Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota. School details listed here are for the Fargo location.
Central Ohio Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $10,863.00
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,431.00
Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $22,646.00
Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $10,969.00
Polaris Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,070.00
Trumbull Career & Technical Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $21,954.00
Portage Lakes Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $19,513.00
Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
EHOVE Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Warren County Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $19,388.00
Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Buckeye Hills Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $13,106.00
Apollo Career Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $17,139.00
Elite Welding Academy South Point
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Canadian Valley Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $1,898.00
Moore Norman Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,709.00
Metro Technology Centers
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $8,370.00
Murray State College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $10,404.00
Western Oklahoma State College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $7,440.00
Autry Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Meridian Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $8,993.00
Tulsa Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $10,490.00
Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $8,432.00
Gordon Cooper Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $4,974.00
Tulsa Welding School-Tulsa
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $27,357.00
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $3,133.00
Mid-America Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $2,714.00
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $5,874.00
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $1,378.00
Red River Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Western Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,056.00
Central Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $2,265.00
Northeast Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,867.00
Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $5,584.00
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $25,250.00
Rosedale Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $17,711.00
New Castle School of Trades
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,284.00
All-State Career School
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $16,127.00
Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $22,757.00
Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $5,073.00
Berks Career & Technology Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $18,798.00
Precision Manufacturing Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $18,530.00
Philadelphia Technician Training
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $20,024.00
Welder Training and Testing Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $17,174.00
Williamsburg Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,014.00
York Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $6,915.00
Aiken Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $4,033.00
Arclabs
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $20,946.00
Lake Area Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $13,069.00
Mitchell Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $12,190.00
Southeast Technical College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $15,186.00
Western Dakota Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $13,934.00
William R Moore College of Technology
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $15,024.00
Western Texas College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $4,952.00
M T Training Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,615.00
Elite Welding Academy
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $21,752.00
MCI
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $18,625.00
Davis Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,369.00
Mountainland Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Tooele Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $105.00
Bridgerland Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $7,845.00
Southwest Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: NA
Lincoln Technical Institute
Details:
Lincoln Technical Institute has campuses across the United States. Each location offers different programs, so be sure to check the location to make sure the program is available at the location you are interested in.
Miller-Motte College
Details:
Miller-Motte has several campuses on the southern region of the United states. Each location offers different programs, so be sure to check the location you are interested in to be sure the program you want to take is available there.
Center For Employment Training
Details:
The Center for Employment Training has 12 career training centers, with most being located in California. Each location will have different programs, so be sure to check the location program offerings.
Advanced Welding Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $17,824.00
Advanced Technology Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $18,970.00
Tidewater Tech-Trades
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $24,509.00
Bates Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $8,594.00
Perry Technical Institute
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $18,800.00
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $4,355.00
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $10,194
Job Placement: Yes
Lakeshore Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $10,474.00
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $8,369.00
Blackhawk Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,650.00
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $11,734.00
Mid-State Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,316.00
Nicolet Area Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $5,933.00
Western Technical College
Housing: Yes
Average Net Price: $10,217.00
Northwood Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $11,008.00
Fox Valley Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,836.00
Moraine Park Technical College
Housing: No
Average Net Price: $9,373.00
Wind River Job Corps Center
Welding Salaries
Hold onto your welding masks, folks, because we’re about to dive into the sizzling world of welding salaries!
As you may already know, welding is a hot and in-demand trade that can lead to a lucrative career.
But, just like welding itself, the salaries can come in all shapes and sizes depending on various factors.
From the type of welding you do to your level of experience and education, there are many different factors that can affect your earning potential.
As an example, a pipeline welder may make considerably more than a welder working in an auto shop. Check our our guide that goes into more detail about how much welders make by specialty.
So, buckle up and get ready to weld your way to financial success (and hopefully, a few fancy cars and vacation homes)!
$31,350
$47,010
$63,660
Choosing A Welding School
Choosing the right welding school can be scary!
But it doesn’t have to be.
When making a decision, make sure you consider factors like location, cost, accreditation, and curriculum.
- Consider the school’s location and whether it’s easily accessible to you.
- Look at the cost of tuition, you can reach out to the finance department to get the most accurate information.
- Are there additional expenses like textbooks or equipment?
- Check whether the school is accredited by a reputable organization, as this ensures that the education you receive meets certain standards.
- Take a close look at the curriculum and make sure it aligns with your career goals. There are different types of welders, so you want to be sure you take the classes to get the certification for your speciality.
Also find out whether the school offers hands-on training, industry connections, and career placement assistance.
By taking the time to consider these factors, you can make an informed decision and choose the welding school that’s right for you.