What Are the Best Welding Schools in Alabama?
- Bevill State Community College (Fayette) offers Welding Technology AAS Degree and SMAW Welding Technology Short-Term Certificate.
- George C Wallace State Community College-Selma (Selma) offers Welding: Structural Welding Certificate and Welding: Pipe Welding Standard Certificate.
- George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville (Hanceville) offers Welding Technology AAS and Welding Certificate.
- Resident tuition and fees run from $4,272 to $5,220 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Alabama: 2 of the verified welding programs in Alabama list evening or weekend sections.
- Alabama welders earn a median $48,490 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Bevill State Community College Leads the Alabama Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bevill State Community CollegeFayette | $4,734 | 118 certificates, 9 associate | 38% |
| 2 | George C Wallace State Community College-SelmaSelma | $4,740 | 144 certificates | 41% |
| 3 | George C Wallace State Community College-HancevilleHanceville | $5,220 | 195 certificates | 51% |
| 4 | Northwest Shoals Community CollegePhil Campbell | $5,131 | 168 certificates | 39% |
| 5 | J F Ingram State Technical CollegeDeatsville | 296 certificates | 21% | |
| 6 | Coastal Alabama Community CollegeFairhope | $5,040 | 194 certificates | 31% |
| 7 | Gadsden State Community CollegeAnniston | $4,272 | 62 certificates | 38% |
| 8 | Lurleen B Wallace Community CollegeOpp | $5,190 | 68 certificates, 3 associate | 41% |
| 9 | Southern Union State Community CollegeWadley | $5,040 | 87 certificates | 36% |
| 10 | Central Alabama Community CollegeAlexander City | $5,110 | 144 certificates | 33% |
| 11 | George C Wallace Community College-DothanDothan | $4,980 | 82 certificates | 35% |
| 12 | Shelton State Community CollegeTuscaloosa | $5,127 | 40 certificates, 15 associate | 30% |
Welding programs in Alabama, ranked by the method below. Tuition is the 2024–25 full-time resident rate and graduation rate is college-wide (NCES College Navigator). Welding awards are credentials conferred in welding (IPEDS). Blank cells mean no federal figure for that college.
How We Ranked Alabama Welding Schools
Each Alabama college with a verified, current welding program page gets a percentile score among its in-state peers: program size (35%, welding awards conferred), cost (25%, lowest resident tuition and fees for 2024–25), completion (25%, college-wide graduation rate) and credential ladder (15%, both certificates and associate degrees awarded). Federal data can't measure instructors or equipment, so visit the shop before you enroll.
Best Welding Schools in Alabama by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Most Welding Awards, Working Adults and Highest Completion
Welding Schools in Alabama, College by College
1Bevill State Community College, Fayette, Alabama
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,734 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 127 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication · Robotic
2George C Wallace State Community College-Selma, Selma, Alabama
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,740 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 144 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
3George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, Hanceville, Alabama
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,220 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 195 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
4Northwest Shoals Community College, Phil Campbell, Alabama
Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,131 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 168 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
5J F Ingram State Technical College, Deatsville, Alabama
Offers 5 certificates in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 5 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 296 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Pipe
6Coastal Alabama Community College, Fairhope, Alabama
Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,040 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 194 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
7Gadsden State Community College, Anniston, Alabama
Offers 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,272 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 62 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Pipe · Fabrication
8Lurleen B Wallace Community College, Opp, Alabama
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,190 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 71 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
9Southern Union State Community College, Wadley, Alabama
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,040 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 87 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
10Central Alabama Community College, Alexander City, Alabama
Offers 2 associate degrees and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,110 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 144 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
11George C Wallace Community College-Dothan, Dothan, Alabama
Offers 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,980 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 82 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
12Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,127 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 55 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
Welding Classes in Alabama: 2 Programs Teach Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- Coastal Alabama Community CollegeAAS: four semesters; STC-WD7 and STC-WD6: two semesters; STC-WD2 and STC-WD3: one semester.
- George C Wallace State Community College-HancevilleAAS and certificate: 4 semesters; short-term certificates: 1 semester (per 2026-27 program expense sheet).
- Bevill State Community CollegeSumiton Campus lists separate day and evening sections.
- George C Wallace State Community College-SelmaPipe Welding Standard Certificate sequence runs four semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall).
- Shelton State Community CollegeAAS and certificate: full-time day, fall entry, three to four consecutive semesters; short-term certificate: part-time evening, year-round, five to six semesters.
- George C Wallace Community College-DothanCertificate suggested sequence spans four semesters; students can exit after two semesters with a plate welding certificate.
More Welding Programs in Alabama: Colleges That Award Welding Credentials
Welding credentials each college conferred in 2022–23 (IPEDS). Confirm current program details with each college.
- Lawson State Community College, Birmingham29
- Northeast Alabama Community College, Rainsville28
- Fortis Institute-Birmingham, Birmingham23
- Bishop State Community College, Mobile22
- Reid State Technical College, Evergreen17
What Welding School Costs in Alabama: $4,272 to $5,220 a Year
Among the 11 Alabama welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $4,272 at Gadsden State Community College to $5,220 at George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Gadsden State Community College | Anniston | $4,272 (in-state) |
| Bevill State Community College | Fayette | $4,734 (in-state) |
| George C Wallace State Community College-Selma | Selma | $4,740 (in-state) |
| George C Wallace Community College-Dothan | Dothan | $4,980 (in-state) |
| Coastal Alabama Community College | Fairhope | $5,040 (in-state) |
| Southern Union State Community College | Wadley | $5,040 (in-state) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Alabama: The Mobile Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile | $61,420 | $74,520 | 1,700 |
| Anniston–Oxford | $59,820 | $67,350 | 430 |
| Decatur | $56,990 | $83,810 | 530 |
| Tuscaloosa | $52,180 | $75,920 | 290 |
| Birmingham | $49,930 | $71,640 | 2,160 |
| Montgomery | $47,880 | $71,160 | 560 |
| Daphne–Fairhope–Foley | $47,860 | $74,450 | 210 |
| Dothan | $45,210 | $59,720 | 310 |
| Florence–Muscle Shoals | $44,210 | $60,120 | 130 |
| Huntsville | $44,020 | $60,970 | 1,810 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Alabama (12,450 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Alabama
Welding Schools in Alabama: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Alabama Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Alabama colleges on this page run from $4,272 to $5,220 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Alabama?
Alabama programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Northwest Shoals Community College lists Welding - AOT (Associate in Occupational Technology) (63-64 credit hours) and Welding - Certificate (54 credit hours); J F Ingram State Technical College lists Welding (Long-Term Certificate) (60 semester hours); Coastal Alabama Community College lists Welding Technology (AAS-WDT) (61 credit hours) and Welding - Pipe Welding (STC-WD7) (27 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Alabama?
BLS estimates a median of $48,490 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Alabama (May 2025), across 12,450 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,710 and the top 10% earn more than $66,820.
What Is the Best Welding School in Alabama?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Bevill State Community College ranks first among Alabama colleges with verified welding programs, followed by George C Wallace State Community College-Selma. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Alabama?
Yes. 2 welding schools in Alabama publish evening or weekend sections, including Bevill State Community College and Shelton State Community College.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Alabama?
12 schools have a current welding program in Alabama, each checked against the school's own program page, and 8 offer an associate degree.
What Is the Most Affordable Welding School in Alabama?
Gadsden State Community College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Alabama welding schools with federal figures: $4,272 for a full-time year (in-state). Bevill State Community College ($4,734) and George C Wallace State Community College-Selma ($4,740) follow.
Which Alabama Welding Schools Offer an Associate Degree?
Bevill State Community College, Central Alabama Community College and Coastal Alabama Community College and 5 more offer a welding associate degree, usually alongside shorter certificates.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Alabama?
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, Northwest Shoals Community College and Southern Union State Community College describe American Welding Society (AWS) testing or certification on their program pages. Each profile shows what the school offers.
Do I Need a Certification to Work as a Welder?
Many employers test welders on their own procedure before hiring. The American Welding Society's Certified Welder program is a performance test with no education or experience prerequisites, taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility.
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More on Welding in Alabama
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 12 Alabama colleges above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022–23 and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- American Welding Society, Certified Welder program.