What Are the Best Welding Schools in Alaska?
- Alaska Vocational Technical Center (Seward) offers AVTEC Industrial Welding program certificate.
- Charter College (Anchorage) offers Certificate in Welding.
- University of Alaska Southeast (Juneau) offers Welding O.E. and Advanced Welding O.E..
- Resident tuition and fees run from $7,056 to $18,375 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Alaska: 1 of the verified welding programs in Alaska list evening or weekend sections.
- Alaska welders earn a median $80,840 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Alaska Vocational Technical Center Leads the Alaska Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska Vocational Technical CenterSeward | 22 certificates | ||
| 2 | Charter CollegeAnchorage | $18,375 | 79 certificates | |
| 3 | University of Alaska SoutheastJuneau | $7,056 | 20 certificates | 28% |
| 4 | University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks | $8,736 | 10 certificates | 38% |
| 5 | University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage | $7,738 | 6 certificates | 30% |
Welding programs in Alaska, 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 Alaska Welding Schools
Each Alaska 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 Alaska by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Most Welding Awards and Working Adults
Welding Schools in Alaska, College by College
1Alaska Vocational Technical Center, Seward, Alaska
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 22 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
2Charter College, Anchorage, Alaska
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $18,375 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 79 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
3University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,056 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 20 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting
4University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $8,736 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 10 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
5University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska
Offers 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,738 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 6 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 Alaska: One Program Teaches Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- Charter CollegeProgram length 10 months; blended learning (classroom and online); classes start every 10 weeks.
- Alaska Vocational Technical CenterProgram offered in January and August; 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
- University of Alaska FairbanksCohort-based (up to 16 students) starting each Fall; most welding courses taught in the evening or on the weekend; can be completed in as little as 10 months.
What Welding School Costs in Alaska: $7,056 to $18,375 a Year
Among the 4 Alaska welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $7,056 at University of Alaska Southeast to $18,375 at Charter College. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Alaska Southeast | Juneau | $7,056 (in-state) |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage | $7,738 (in-state) |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks | $8,736 (in-state) |
| Charter College | Anchorage | $18,375 (all students) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Alaska: The Fairbanks Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks–College | $80,210 | $109,940 | 70 |
| Anchorage | $74,000 | $96,200 | 250 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Alaska (790 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Alaska
Welding Schools in Alaska: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Alaska Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Alaska colleges on this page run from $7,056 to $18,375 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Alaska?
Alaska programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Alaska Vocational Technical Center lists AVTEC Industrial Welding program certificate (1110 clock hours); University of Alaska Anchorage lists Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Welding (19 credits) and Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Advanced Welding (22 credits); University of Alaska Southeast lists Welding O.E. (9 credit hours) and Advanced Welding O.E. (18 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Alaska?
BLS estimates a median of $80,840 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Alaska (May 2025), across 790 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,660 and the top 10% earn more than $109,940.
What Is the Best Welding School in Alaska?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Alaska Vocational Technical Center ranks first among Alaska colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Charter College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Alaska?
Yes. 1 welding schools in Alaska publish evening or weekend sections, including University of Alaska Fairbanks.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Alaska?
5 schools have a current welding program in Alaska, each checked against the school's own program page.
What Is the Most Affordable Welding School in Alaska?
University of Alaska Southeast had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Alaska welding schools with federal figures: $7,056 for a full-time year (in-state). University of Alaska Anchorage ($7,738) and University of Alaska Fairbanks ($8,736) follow.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Alaska?
Alaska Vocational Technical Center, University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks 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 Alaska
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 5 Alaska 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.