17 Best Welding Schools – 2026
December 30, 2025
Finding your path after high school can be a challenge. For some students, attending a four-year university may not be the right fit. In this case, students might be looking to practice and hone a specific skill set and want more hands-on experience. Therefore, they might explore their options at a trade school. A trade school typically offers more specialized courses for graduates looking to develop a vocational skill set. Usually, these courses offer more hands-on experience and may not take as long to complete as a 4-year degree. There are many fields to pursue and study at trade schools. For example, welding schools could be a good fit for many students. In today’s blog, we’ll be covering the best welding schools in the US, the average salary for a welder, and the cost of welding school.
What is Welding?
Welding is a construction-related activity that is used to bind materials together. Most commonly, these materials include metal. Welders work to combine their materials together through a specific combination of heat and pressure. Learning the proper way to combine these materials is necessary to ensure safe and thorough practices.
Typically, welders join metal parts together in flat, vertical, or overhead positions. Therefore, this is the type of job that can be physically demanding and requires prospective students to be in good physical health. Generally, it is recommended that welders are able to lift up to 50 pounds and be comfortable working in a variety of positions.
What Do You Study at a Welding School?
There are a wide variety of welding schools across the United States that work to prepare competitive graduates. Typically, welding programs can take anywhere from 9 months to 2 years. However, for students interested in earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Welding Engineering Technology, this process may take longer. For example, this Bachelor of Science degree allows students to learn more about engineering methodologies.
Some of the best welding schools may or may not offer these degree-specific programs. At the same time, each are highly focused training programs with notable accreditations.
Welding schools prepare students for their field through practical experience and hands-on instruction. This instruction can include learning how to conduct specific types of arc welding. Likely, students will also learn about power voltages, metals, and how to operate the proper welding equipment.
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Welders have a wide range of opportunities to pursue after graduation. For example, welders can work in manufacturing, pipefitting, artistic welding, automotive engineering, and more. Needless to say, there are endless options for graduates of welding schools.
Furthermore, students will need to perform certain tests in addition to their schoolwork in order to ensure proper benchmarks are met. Some of these tests are more complicated than others, depending on the student’s skillset and duration of time spent in the program.
What’s the Average Salary for a Welder?
In 2023, welders typically earned $25.31 per hour, though this will vary depending on the welder’s skill level, experience, and location. For example, on average, welders in California earn the most of any state. Occasionally, welders will need to travel to a different state for a bigger and more demanding job. Usually, this job will pay more because of the relocation.
Furthermore, welders who have more certifications are likely to earn more. For welders who take the time to learn specialty welding practices, they can acquire new jobs that pay more for their talent. Regardless, students will need to graduate from their one of their chosen welding colleges before they can acquire new work.
Best Welding Schools
If you are interested in attending school for welding, then you are probably looking for the best welding schools. While there are many, below we have assembled a list of the 17 best welding schools in the United States. Each of the welding schools promises great opportunities for prospective students.
Some factors you might consider before you choose one of the specific welding colleges are location, accreditation, and offered programs. The duration of the program may also be an important consideration if you are looking to get into the job market more quickly.
1) Missouri Welding Institute
- Location: Nevada, Missouri
- Cost: $13,298 (Advanced Pipe Fitting), $16,750 (Master Structural Welding & Fitting), $22,900 (Master Pipe Welding & Fitting)
Missouri Welding Institute has been the industry’s gold standard for welding and fitting training for the last three decades. The 45,000-square-foot training facility sits on 10 acres and houses 86 welding booths and 12 testing booths. 20,000 square feet of the facility houses the world’s largest job site simulator with over 150 weld simulators. Students will spend the last four weeks of their program in this facility, focusing on beginning to advanced field welds, hands-on fitting, fall protection, lockout tag out procedures, job safety analysis, and much more.
During the 18-week program, students are taught pipe fitting, blueprint reading, rigging, trade math, job placement, weld defects and discontinuities, OSHA 10, practical job site knowledge, welding terminology and abbreviations, oxy-acetylene cutting, as well as all four major welding processes and can graduate with nine nationally recognized certifications. MWI has had over 12,000 graduates over the last 30 years with an average job placement of 94%.
2) The Lincoln Electric Welding School
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Cost: $9,840
This school’s comprehensive program takes 16 weeks and covers all aspects of welding, cutting, and brazing. Courses offer hands-on, qualified instruction. With up-to-date welding and cutting equipment available—over 160 booths—students are well-prepared for their future careers. Additionally, students also have access to a virtual reality training lab for even more practice.
3) Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
- Location: Troy, Ohio
- Cost: $15,400 (Structural Welding Program) / $23,700 (Pathway Welding Program)
At these institutions, students have the opportunity to take the 26-week Structural Welding program or the 40-week Pathways Welding program. These courses help students further their skills and knowledge of all position welding. The Hobart Institute is a well-known welding school and is committed to developing competitive graduates.
4) Advanced Welding Institute
- Location: South Burlington, Vermont / Eagle River, Wisconsin
- Cost: $22,000 – $26,500 (Structural Welding) / $25,000 – $28,250 (Structural Welding and Pipe Fitting)
With individualized instruction, students at this school can work one-on-one with their instructors. Students experience hands-on training and have the opportunity to pursue either a 15-week structural welding course or a 24-week course that includes pipe fitting. This institution is one of the best welding schools certified by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
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5) Modern Welding School
- Location: Schenectady, New York
- Cost: $20,800 (900 hours, full time) / $15,884 (665 hours, part time)
The Modern Welding School offers both a 30-week and 45-week program. After completion, students will be prepared to enter the welding field through hands-on practice and applications. To apply, students must be at least 18 years of age by the time they complete their program. Additionally, students must be able to meet certain physical requirements, such as lifting 50 pounds and the ability to work in flat or vertical overhead positions.
6) Welder Training & Testing Institute
- Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Cost: Not currently published, but has been ~$25,000 (for an eight-month course) in past years
Not only does this institution train welders, but also it provides industrial services to corporations for outside testing, inspection, and more. With flexible scheduling, students can customize a schedule that fits their needs. Courses also include preparation for national standardized examinations and welding technology seminars.
7) Tulsa Welding School
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma (with campuses in Florida and Texas)
- Cost: $29,950 (seven-month career course)
At this school, there are multiple disciplines. For example, in addition to welding, students can also learn about refrigeration technologies and electro-mechanical technologies. The Professional Welder course requires seven months to complete and prepares students for entry-level positions.
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8) Davis Technical College
- Location: Kaysville, Utah
- Cost: $3,474
As part of their welding technology program, students at this institution can begin as soon as they would like. With start dates that occur every two weeks, flexibility allows for ease of scheduling. At 18 hours a week, students typically complete this program in 10 months.
9) Collins Career Technical Center
- Location: Chesapeake, Ohio
- Cost: $8,050
This welding program trains students in a variety of techniques. Additionally, students will learn how to read and interpret blueprint design to better understand how to shape metal. Typically, this program takes nine months to complete. Classes usually take place in the evenings from Monday through Thursday.
10) Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
- Location: Wichita, Kansas
- Cost: $20,400
WSU Tech’s 2-year Associate’s Degree in Applied Science (Welding) program allows students to gain knowledge and experience with cutting, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding. Throughout this program, students have both classroom and lab instruction. Students can also earn a technical certificate in as little as 12 months.
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11) Renton Technical College
- Location: Renton, Washington
- Cost: Approx. $14,000 (residents) / $15,000 (non-residents)
During this program, students will combine classroom instruction with practical experience. Students can pursue either a certificate (105 credits) or an associate’s degree in welding (115 credits). Both programs take approximately two years.
12) Universal Technical Institute
- Location: 13 campuses around the US
- Cost: Approx. $23,000
With a curriculum developed with Lincoln Electric, the practical experience students gain from this program is invaluable. Additionally, prospective students can train and graduate in less than 9 months. At UTI, students learn a combination of 4 different welding processes. With locations across 9 states, you are sure to find a convenient location for you.
13) Lorenzo Walker Technical College
- Location: Naples, Florida
- Cost: $5,752
At this institution, students can find rewarding career opportunities in pipefitting, artistic welding, fabrication technician, and ironwork. Students have a 79% placement rate after graduation.
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14) Lakeshore College
- Location: Cleveland, Wisconsin
- Cost: $4,036 (residents) / $6,061 (non-residents)
In this program, students have the opportunity to complete hands-on work with an emphasis on accuracy and an eye for detail. LTC is an accredited test facility for the American Welding Society. For a technical diploma, the program takes place over 2 terms and is 27 credits.
15) Arizona Automotive Institute
- Location: Glendale, Arizona
- Cost: $30,160
With an emphasis on flexible class scheduling, this program allows for hands-on, career-focused training. With multiple program offerings, students can graduate and be prepared for a welding career in about 10 months. In terms of opportunities post-graduation, students will be prepared to work in a variety of fields, from shipbuilding to architecture.
16) Elite Welding Academy
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio / South Point, Ohio
- Cost: $21,003
The programs at this institute offer comprehensive welding education to provide a strong foundation in all types of welding. Students work with experienced instructors to ensure their knowledge is comprehensive. With small class sizes, students have a more individualized approach to their education. After graduation, students are prepared for careers in manufacturing, construction, and pipeline work.
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17) Ferris State University
- Location: Big Rapids, Michigan
- Cost: Approx. $15,000 per year
At Ferris State University, students can earn either an Associate’s Degree in Welding Technology or a Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology. After graduation, students will be able to make significant contributions in concept, design, and engineering of welding processes. After a recent campus expansion, students now have larger and more laboratory and classroom facilities.
Best Welding Schools – Final Thoughts
Overall, high school students have a lot of choices regarding the type of institution they attend post-graduation. For students who know that hands-on job training is the right path for them, a welding degree or certificate may be a good fit. As some programs can take only a few months to complete, students will be ready for real-world experience quickly. Plus, with a variety of locations and program offerings, there are a lot of wonderful opportunities to choose from.
If you’re curious about trade schools and trade-specific careers, check out the links below:
