What Are the Best Welding Schools in Arizona?
- Northland Pioneer College (Holbrook) offers Associate of Applied Science - Welding (AAS) and Welder/Welding Technologist (CAS).
- Mohave Community College (Lake Havasu City) offers Introduction to Welding Certificate (WIN.CT) and Pipe Welding and Fabrication Certificate (WPF.CT).
- Refrigeration School Inc (Phoenix) offers Welding Specialist.
- Resident tuition and fees run from $2,208 to $2,948 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Arizona: 1 of the verified welding programs in Arizona list evening or weekend sections.
- Arizona welders earn a median $55,600 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Northland Pioneer College Leads the Arizona Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northland Pioneer CollegeHolbrook | $2,232 | 231 certificates, 12 associate | 22% |
| 2 | Mohave Community CollegeLake Havasu City | $2,208 | 231 certificates | 38% |
| 3 | Refrigeration School IncPhoenix | 359 certificates | ||
| 4 | Mesa Community CollegeMesa | $2,358 | 287 certificates, 19 associate | 16% |
| 5 | Eastern Arizona CollegeThatcher | $2,352 | 23 certificates, 10 associate | 42% |
| 6 | Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive InstituteGlendale | 192 certificates | ||
| 7 | Universal Technical Institute of Arizona IncAvondale | 179 certificates | ||
| 8 | East Valley Institute of TechnologyMesa | 92 certificates | ||
| 9 | Pima Community CollegeTucson | $2,442 | 28 certificates, 22 associate | 28% |
| 10 | Central Arizona CollegeCoolidge | $2,250 | 68 certificates | 27% |
| 11 | Western Maricopa Education CenterGlendale | 52 certificates | ||
| 12 | Yavapai CollegePrescott | $2,948 | 68 certificates | 34% |
| 13 | GateWay Community College-Central CityPhoenix | 27 certificates |
Welding programs in Arizona, 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 Arizona Welding Schools
Each Arizona 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 Arizona by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Most Welding Awards and Highest Completion
Welding Schools in Arizona, College by College
1Northland Pioneer College, Holbrook, Arizona
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,232 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 243 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
2Mohave Community College, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Offers 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,208 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 231 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
3Refrigeration School Inc, Phoenix, Arizona
Offers a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 359 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
4Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona
Offers an associate degree and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,358 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 306 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe
5Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, Arizona
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,352 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 33 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored
6Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute, Glendale, Arizona
Offers a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 192 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
7Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc, Avondale, Arizona
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 179 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
8East Valley Institute of Technology, Mesa, Arizona
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 92 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication · Inspection
9Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,442 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 50 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
10Central Arizona College, Coolidge, Arizona
Offers 2 associate degrees and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,250 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 68 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
11Western Maricopa Education Center, Glendale, Arizona
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 52 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored
12Yavapai College, Prescott, Arizona
Offers 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,948 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 68 conferred 2024–25
Teaches MIG · TIG · Pipe
13GateWay Community College-Central City, Phoenix, Arizona
Offers 5 certificates in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 5 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 27 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
Welding Classes in Arizona: One Program Teaches Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- Refrigeration School Inc7 months; lab 5 hours per day, 4 days a week, one class day; morning, afternoon, evening, weekend and overnight sessions; hybrid online theory.
- Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc9-10 months; frequent starts.
- Yavapai CollegeGMAW and Structural certificates: 2 semesters; GTAW and Pipe certificates: 3 semesters.
- Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute10 months; rolling enrollment.
- Western Maricopa Education Center900 clock hours: 16 hrs/week for 60 weeks or 12 hrs/week for 80 weeks. Central: Mon-Thu 2:15-6:15 PM or 6:45-9:45 PM; Southwest: Mon-Thu 9:30 AM-1:30 PM or 6:00-10:00 PM.
- Eastern Arizona CollegeAAS: 4 full-time semesters; Welding Technology Certificate: 2 full-time semesters; Welding Manufacturing Fundamentals: 4 part-time semesters.
- Pima Community CollegeAAS 2 years full-time; Fabrication certificate 1 year full-time; Basic Welding certificate 1 semester full-time; in person.
- GateWay Community College-Central City9 months (day program, based on 24 hours a week); cohort program in blocks.
More Welding Programs in Arizona: Colleges That Award Welding Credentials
Welding credentials each college conferred in 2022–23 (IPEDS). Confirm current program details with each college.
- Cochise County Community College District, Sierra Vista23
- Arizona Western College, Yuma17
What Welding School Costs in Arizona: $2,208 to $2,948 a Year
Among the 7 Arizona welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $2,208 at Mohave Community College to $2,948 at Yavapai College. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more. See the Welding School Cost in Arizona guide for books, program length and how to cut costs.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Mohave Community College | Lake Havasu City | $2,208 (in-state) |
| Northland Pioneer College | Holbrook | $2,232 (in-district) |
| Central Arizona College | Coolidge | $2,250 (in-state) |
| Eastern Arizona College | Thatcher | $2,352 (in-state) |
| Mesa Community College | Mesa | $2,358 (in-state) |
| Pima Community College | Tucson | $2,442 (in-state) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Arizona: The Phoenix Area Pays the Most
For pay by metro area and by welding job, see Welder Salary in Arizona.
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler | $56,540 | $81,290 | 5,440 |
| Flagstaff | $54,460 | $100,470 | 60 |
| Sierra Vista–Douglas | $53,160 | $91,280 | 50 |
| Prescott Valley–Prescott | $51,300 | $77,330 | 200 |
| Tucson | $51,150 | $78,090 | 740 |
| Lake Havasu City–Kingman | $50,030 | $74,990 | 110 |
| Yuma | $49,680 | $73,210 | 120 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Arizona (7,270 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Arizona
Welding Schools in Arizona: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Arizona Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Arizona colleges on this page run from $2,208 to $2,948 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Arizona?
Arizona programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Northland Pioneer College lists Associate of Applied Science - Welding (AAS) (64 credit hours); Mesa Community College lists Associate in Applied Science in Welding (61-69 credit hours) and Certificate of Completion in Welding (13-18 credit hours); Yavapai College lists Welding - Gas Metal Arc Welding Certificate (24 credit hours) and Welding - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Certificate (24 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Arizona?
BLS estimates a median of $55,600 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Arizona (May 2025), across 7,270 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,970 and the top 10% earn more than $81,280.
What Is the Best Welding School in Arizona?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Northland Pioneer College ranks first among Arizona colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Mohave Community College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Arizona?
Yes. 1 welding schools in Arizona publish evening or weekend sections, including Refrigeration School Inc.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Arizona?
13 schools have a current welding program in Arizona, each checked against the school's own program page, and 5 offer an associate degree.
What Is the Most Affordable Welding School in Arizona?
Mohave Community College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Arizona welding schools with federal figures: $2,208 for a full-time year (in-state). Northland Pioneer College ($2,232) and Central Arizona College ($2,250) follow.
Which Arizona Welding Schools Offer an Associate Degree?
Central Arizona College, Eastern Arizona College and Mesa Community College and 2 more offer a welding associate degree, usually alongside shorter certificates.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Arizona?
Central Arizona College, East Valley Institute of Technology and Mohave Community College and 3 other schools 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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Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 13 Arizona 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.