How Much Does Welding School Cost in North Carolina?
A full-time year of in-state tuition and fees at a North Carolina community college welding program ran from $1,944 at Vance-Granville Community College to $4,112 at Southwestern Community College in 2024–25, and only two schools charged more than $2,882. At Wake Tech in Raleigh, a welding certificate costs about $1,064 in tuition and fees, the diploma $3,116 and the associate degree $4,864.
Welding school in North Carolina is some of the cheapest training you will find. In 2024–25, a full-time year of in-state tuition and fees at the state’s community college welding programs ran from $1,944 at Vance-Granville Community College to $4,112 at Southwestern Community College in Sylva. Of the 38 community colleges with a figure, only Gaston College ($3,186) and Southwestern charged more than Asheville-Buncombe Tech’s $2,882.
Because tuition is so similar from school to school, your total cost depends mostly on two choices: the credential you pick (certificate, diploma or associate degree) and the books and supplies your program requires.
What a Certificate, Diploma or Degree Costs in North Carolina
North Carolina welding programs stack in three levels, and many colleges offer all three. Each level builds on the one below it.
Certificate. Usually 12 to 18 credit hours, finished in one or two semesters. It teaches one or two processes, such as stick or MIG, and gets you ready for an entry-level job.
Diploma. About 36 to 43 credit hours, typically one year full time. It covers the main processes, cutting, blueprint reading and often pipe.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS). About 64 to 73 credit hours over two years, with general education classes added to the welding core.
Three colleges publish what each level costs:
- Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh: estimated total tuition and fees for in-state students are $1,064 for the 14-credit certificate, $3,116 for the 41-credit diploma and $4,864 for the 64-credit AAS.
- Fayetteville Technical Community College: the 39-credit Welding Diploma is $2,964 in tuition, at $76 per credit hour. With books, fees and supplies, the college estimates $4,440 in-state.
- Davidson-Davie Community College, Thomasville: the 39-credit diploma lists $2,964.00 in tuition plus $386.25 in student fees. It takes one year and starts in the fall.
Tuition and Supplies at North Carolina Welding Schools
Here are tuition and fees for a full-time year in 2024–25 at the in-state rate, with each college’s books-and-supplies estimate. Source: NCES College Navigator.
| School | City | Tuition and fees | Books and supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson | $1,944 | $1,470 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | $1,980 | $1,414 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | $1,986 | $1,300 |
| Craven Community College | New Bern | $2,022 | $1,300 |
| Isothermal Community College | Spindale | $2,030 | $1,600 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Salisbury | $2,064 | $1,800 |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | $2,242 | $1,203 |
| Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh | $2,254 | $1,648 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem | $2,276 | $1,700 |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | $2,427 | $1,870 |
| Piedmont Community College | Roxboro | $2,556 | $760 |
| Wilkes Community College | Wilkesboro | $2,572 | $702 |
| Pitt Community College | Winterville | $2,580 | $1,500 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | $2,628 | $1,410 |
| Mitchell Community College | Statesville | $2,641 | $3,190 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | $2,792 | $1,926 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | $2,882 | $2,000 |
| Gaston College | Dallas | $3,186 | $1,470 |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | $4,112 | $2,232 |
The tuition column is tightly bunched. The supply column is not, and that is where schools really differ.
When Books and Supplies Cost More Than Tuition
The books-and-supplies estimate is what the college expects you to spend on top of tuition for a year. Colleges estimate it differently, and in North Carolina it can outweigh tuition.
At Mitchell Community College in Statesville, the supply estimate of $3,190 is higher than the $2,641 tuition. Montgomery Community College in Troy lists $2,702 in supplies against $2,538 in tuition. Wilson Community College lists $2,500 against $2,572, nearly even.
At the other end, Wilkes Community College estimates $702 and Piedmont Community College $760. Add tuition and supplies together and those two are among the cheapest first years in the state, even though their tuition sits mid-pack.
If you are comparing two schools, add both columns. A college with lower tuition but a long gear list can cost you more.
Low-Cost Ways to Start While You Keep Your Job
Several North Carolina colleges make it possible to start small and train around work.
- Single courses. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Hudson offers continuing education TIG and MIG courses at $182 per course. It also runs welding through a night school.
- Evening certificates. Wake Tech’s welding certificate is taught in the evening only, and its diploma runs day or evening. Wilkes Community College offers a 17-credit Basic Welder/Fabricator certificate in the evening, in a competency-based format, with the next start on October 14, 2026.
- Evening diplomas. Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine lays out a 43-credit evening diploma.
- Part-time plans. Fayetteville Tech publishes a part-time diploma sequence over five terms. Pitt Community College lets you spread the AAS over up to ten semesters, with general education classes online. Central Carolina Community College in Sanford runs its certificates over two semesters by day or three at night.
Paying Out-of-State Rates
If you haven’t lived in North Carolina long enough to qualify as a resident, expect roughly three times the in-state price. Out-of-state tuition and fees ran from $6,526 at Caldwell to $13,184 at Southwestern Community College in 2024–25. Fayetteville Tech estimates its diploma at $10,452 in tuition for out-of-state students and $11,928 with books, fees and supplies.
Welding School Costs Around North Carolina
Charlotte area. Central Piedmont charges $2,792 and is an AWS accredited test facility. Rowan-Cabarrus ($2,064) offers nine certificates, including orbital TIG pipe and high-performance fabrication. See the Charlotte welding schools page and Lake Norman of Catawba. NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville runs a private 36-week welding program that you can finish in under nine months.
Raleigh and the Triangle. Wake Tech conferred 192 welding awards in 2024–25, the most in the state. Durham Tech offers an 18-credit certificate at $1,986 a year. Check the Wake Forest page.
Western North Carolina. A-B Tech ($2,882) adds a 16-credit robotic welding certificate. Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock ($2,660) conferred 105 welding awards. Browse the Asheville welding schools page.
The Triad. Forsyth Tech ($2,276) is an AWS accredited testing facility and runs its diploma and certificate by day or evening. Alamance Community College in Graham ($2,592) offers an AAS, a diploma and seven certificates, from stick and MIG to SMAW pipe.
Eastern North Carolina. Pitt Community College ($2,580) conferred 136 welding awards in 2024–25 and prepares you to certify with AWS and ASME on pipe and plate. Johnston Community College in Smithfield ($2,756) is an AWS accredited testing facility. Wayne Community College in Goldsboro ($2,566) adds an evening option for working adults, and College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City ($2,242) teaches pipe and robotic welding.
Foothills. Cleveland Community College charges $2,602 and offers a diploma and four certificates, including stick pipe and TIG. See Shelby.
What That Training Is Worth in North Carolina
North Carolina welders earned a median of $50,590 in May 2025, or $24.32 an hour. Set that against a diploma that costs a few thousand dollars in-state, and the training is a small share of one year’s pay.
For pay by metro area and the careers welding leads to, read the companion guide to welder salary in North Carolina or the welder career page. To see every school ranked, visit the best welding schools in North Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Cheapest Welding School in North Carolina?
Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson had the lowest in-state tuition and fees, at $1,944 for a full-time year in 2024–25. Davidson-Davie Community College ($1,980) and Durham Technical Community College ($1,986) were close behind.
How Much Is Welding School in North Carolina for Out-of-State Students?
Out-of-state tuition and fees ran from $6,526 at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute to $13,184 at Southwestern Community College in 2024–25. Fayetteville Tech estimates its welding diploma at $11,928 all in for out-of-state students.
Can You Take a Single Welding Course in North Carolina Without Enrolling in a Program?
Yes. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute offers non-credit continuing education TIG and MIG courses at $182 per course. They don't lead to a college credential, but they are a cheap way to learn a process.
How Long Does a Welding Diploma Take in North Carolina?
Most welding diplomas take about a year of full-time study. Fayetteville Tech's runs three semesters (fall, spring, summer), and Stanly Community College's takes one year full time or two years part time.
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