Fresno Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Fresno, CA

Fresno City College trains welders in Fresno, and 7 more welding schools sit within 60 miles.

A welder in an auto-darkening helmet running a MIG bead on steel plate in a fabrication shop
Photo: Rik Schots / Pexels

Is There a Welding School in Fresno?

  • Fresno City College in Fresno, 1 miles away, offers Welding Tech: Metal Fabrication Option AS and Welding Tech: Pipe and Structural Steel Option AS.
  • Institute of Technology in Clovis, 5 miles away, offers Welding Technician Diploma.
  • Madera Community College in Madera, 15 miles away, offers Welding Technology - Associate in Science (Major #M.37A.AS) and Welder - Certificate of Achievement (Major #M.837A.CA).
  • Welding classes in Fresno: 2 of these welding schools publish their class schedules below.
  • Welder pay in the Fresno, CA metro area: a median $50,550 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Best Welding Schools in Fresno for What You Need

Welding Schools in Fresno and the Surrounding Area

Fresno · 1 mi from FresnoPublic, 2-year

Fresno City College, Fresno, California

Offers 2 associate degrees, 6 certificates and one other award in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$1,334
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
95
conferred 2024–25

The closest campus to Fresno.

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

Clovis · 5 mi from FresnoPrivate for-profit, 2-year

Institute of Technology, Clovis, California

Offers a diploma in welding

  • Diploma Program
Welding awards offered
1
certificates and degrees
Welding awards
35
conferred 2024–25
Madera · 15 mi from FresnoPublic, 2-year

Madera Community College, Madera, California

Offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$1,378
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
7
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

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

Reedley · 22 mi from FresnoPublic, 2-year

Reedley College, Reedley, California

Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$1,334
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
40
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Fabrication

Visalia · 38 mi from FresnoPrivate for-profit, under 2-year

Advanced Career Institute, Visalia, California

Offers a certificate in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Pipe Welding
Welding awards offered
1
certificates and degrees
Welding awards
274
conferred 2024–25

The most welding awards nearby (274 in 2024-2025).

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

Tulare · 48 mi from FresnoPublic, 2-year

College of the Sequoias, Tulare, California

Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$1,394
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
41
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

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

Merced · 54 mi from FresnoPublic, 2-year

Merced College, Merced, California

Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$1,200
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
175
conferred 2024–25

The lowest resident tuition of the 6 welding schools here ($1,200).

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication

Coalinga · 54 mi from FresnoPublic, 2-year

Coalinga College, Coalinga, California

Offers a certificate in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$1,384
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
16
conferred 2024–25

The highest college-wide graduation rate here (43%).

Teaches Stick · MIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting · 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 Fresno.

Fresno City College and 7 More Programs Within 60 Miles

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
Fresno City CollegeFresno1 miles$1,33474 certificates, 21 associate24%
Institute of TechnologyClovis5 miles35 certificates
Madera Community CollegeMadera15 miles$1,3784 certificates, 3 associate35%
Reedley CollegeReedley22 miles$1,33437 certificates, 3 associate42%
Advanced Career InstituteVisalia38 miles274 certificates
College of the SequoiasTulare48 miles$1,39433 certificates, 8 associate39%
Merced CollegeMerced54 miles$1,200167 certificates, 8 associate36%
Coalinga CollegeCoalinga54 miles$1,38416 certificates43%

Welding programs near Fresno, 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 Fresno: When Programs Meet

  • Advanced Career InstituteFour daily sessions: 6:00 AM-10:00 AM, 10:30 AM-2:30 PM, 2:30 PM-6:30 PM, 7:00 PM-11:00 PM; runs year-round
  • Merced CollegeMode of Study: Hybrid, On Campus

Certificate or Associate Degree Near Fresno?

Fresno City College, Institute of Technology and Reedley College offer certificates only; Madera Community College and College of the Sequoias also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.

  • Fresno City CollegeState Center Welding Program (16-week, not-for-credit): 16 weeks
  • Institute of TechnologyWelding Technician Diploma: 51 quarter credit hours
  • Madera Community CollegeWelding Technology - Associate in Science (Major #M.37A.AS): 27-28 major units; Welder - Certificate of Achievement (Major #M.837A.CA): 27-28 units
  • Advanced Career InstituteCertificate of Completion (Welding): 760 clock hours (38 weeks)
  • College of the SequoiasAssociate of Science in Welding Technology (AS): 60 units; Certificate of Achievement in Welding: 25-26 units; Certificate of Achievement in Sanitary Welding Applications: 16 units
  • Coalinga CollegeWelding Technology Certificate of Achievement: 18.5 units (required core courses)

Welder Pay Around Fresno

Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Fresno, CA metro area (950 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Questions About Welding Schools in Fresno

How Much Do Welding Schools in Fresno Cost?

Merced College charges the least, $1,200 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; College of the Sequoias charges $1,394. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Merced College budgets $938 for books and supplies).

How Long Does Welding School Take Near Fresno?

Fresno City College lists State Center Welding Program (16-week, not-for-credit) (16 weeks), Institute of Technology lists Welding Technician Diploma (51 quarter credit hours) and Madera Community College lists Welding Technology - Associate in Science (Major #M.37A.AS) (27-28 major units) and Welder - Certificate of Achievement (Major #M.837A.CA) (27-28 units).

How Much Do Welders Make in Fresno?

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median $50,550 a year (BLS, May 2025), 6% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $73,730.

What Is the Best Welding School Near Fresno?

Merced College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 175 welding awards in 2024-2025. Fresno City College ranks second.

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California · Salary

How Much Do Welders Make in California?

California welders earned a median $58,060 in May 2025. See pay in all 25 metro areas, from $64,320 in San Francisco to $46,850 in Visalia.

Guides, Careers and Pay

Sources

  1. Official welding program pages of the 8 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.