Mena Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Mena, AR

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain trains welders in Mena, and 2 more welding schools sit within 60 miles.

A welder in a harness stick-welding a steel beam outdoors
Photo: Cesar A. Ramirez Vallejo / Pexels

Is There a Welding School in Mena?

  • University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain in Mena, 1 miles away, offers Associate of Applied Science Advanced Manufacturing - Welding and Technical Certificate - Welding.
  • Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas in De Queen, 38 miles away, offers Associate of Applied Science in General Technology - General and Pipe Welding Pathway and Technical Certificate of Welding Technology.
  • University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in Fort Smith, 56 miles away, offers Associate of Applied Science in General Technology - Welding and Technical Certificate in Welding.
  • Welding classes in Mena: 1 of these welding schools publish their class schedules below.
  • Welder pay in Arkansas: a median $47,970 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Best Welding Schools in Mena for What You Need

Welding Schools in Mena and the Surrounding Area

Mena · 1 mi from MenaPublic, 2-year

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain, Mena, Arkansas

Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$3,696
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
48
conferred 2024–25

The closest campus to Mena; the lowest resident tuition of the 3 welding schools here ($3,696); the highest college-wide graduation rate here (55%).

Teaches MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication

De Queen · 38 mi from MenaPublic, 2-year

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, De Queen, Arkansas

Offers an associate degree and 9 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$4,200
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
141
conferred 2024–25

The most welding awards nearby (141 in 2024-2025).

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting

Fort Smith · 56 mi from MenaPublic, 4-year

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$7,334
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
47
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Fabrication

Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026. Distances are straight-line from Mena.

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain and 2 More Programs Within 60 Miles

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
University of Arkansas Community College Rich MountainMena1 miles$3,69648 certificates55%
Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasDe Queen38 miles$4,200141 certificates54%
University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith56 miles$7,33447 certificates38%

Welding programs near Mena, sorted by straight-line distance. Tuition: 2024–25 full-time resident rate. Awards: welding credentials conferred (IPEDS, via NCES College Navigator). Graduation rate is college-wide. Blank cells have no federal figure.

Welding Classes in Mena: When Programs Meet

  • Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasCertificates of Proficiency are one semester in duration.

Welding Degrees Near Mena

  • University of Arkansas Community College Rich MountainAssociate of Applied Science Advanced Manufacturing - Welding: 60 credit hours; Technical Certificate - Welding: 25 credit hours; Certificate of Proficiency - Welding (Basic Welding): 14 credit hours
  • Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasAssociate of Applied Science in General Technology - General and Pipe Welding Pathway: 72 credit hours; Technical Certificate of Welding Technology: 30 credit hours; Certificate of Proficiency: SMAW Welding: 12 credit hours
  • University of Arkansas-Fort SmithTechnical Certificate in Welding: 32 credit hours; Certificate of Proficiency - Arc Welding: 12 credit hours; Certificate of Proficiency - MIG Welding: 12 credit hours

Welder Pay in Arkansas

Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Arkansas (6,150 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Questions About Welding Schools in Mena

How Much Do Welding Schools in Mena Cost?

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain charges the least, $3,696 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; University of Arkansas-Fort Smith charges $7,334. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain budgets $960 for books and supplies).

How Long Does Welding School Take Near Mena?

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain lists Associate of Applied Science Advanced Manufacturing - Welding (60 credit hours) and Technical Certificate - Welding (25 credit hours), Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas lists Associate of Applied Science in General Technology - General and Pipe Welding Pathway (72 credit hours) and Technical Certificate of Welding Technology (30 credit hours) and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith lists Technical Certificate in Welding (32 credit hours) and Certificate of Proficiency - Arc Welding (12 credit hours).

How Much Do Welders Make in Mena?

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Arkansas earn a median $47,970 a year (BLS, May 2025), 11% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $62,830.

What Is the Best Welding School Near Mena?

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 48 welding awards in 2024-2025. Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas ranks second.

Welding Programs Near Mena but Farther Out

  • National Park College, Hot Springs64 miles
  • Arkansas Tech University, Ozark67 miles
  • University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, Hope75 miles

Latest Posts From the Blog

All posts

Guides, Careers and Pay

Sources

  1. Official welding program pages of the 3 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.