What Are the Best Welding Schools in Georgia?
- Coastal Pines Technical College (Hazlehurst) offers Welding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder (FS31).
- Central Georgia Technical College (Macon) offers Welding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder TCC (FS31).
- Southern Regional Technical College (Moultrie) offers Welding and Joining Technology, Diploma (WAJ2) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder, TCC (FS31).
- Resident tuition and fees run from $3,007 to $16,657 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Georgia: 6 of the verified welding programs in Georgia list evening or weekend sections.
- Georgia welders earn a median $48,430 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Coastal Pines Technical College Leads the Georgia Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coastal Pines Technical CollegeHazlehurst | $3,268 | 243 certificates | 48% |
| 2 | Central Georgia Technical CollegeMacon | $3,448 | 546 certificates | 47% |
| 3 | Southern Regional Technical CollegeMoultrie | $3,007 | 307 certificates | 31% |
| 4 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical CollegeValdosta | $3,480 | 227 certificates | 50% |
| 5 | Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeSandersville | $3,380 | 157 certificates | 65% |
| 6 | West Georgia Technical CollegeLaGrange | $3,410 | 319 certificates | 35% |
| 7 | Savannah Technical CollegeSavannah | $3,330 | 206 certificates | 42% |
| 8 | Athens Technical CollegeAthens | $3,390 | 166 certificates | 51% |
| 9 | Southern Crescent Technical CollegeGriffin | $3,516 | 176 certificates | 58% |
| 10 | Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeRome | $3,300 | 173 certificates | 43% |
| 11 | Atlanta Technical CollegeAtlanta | $3,382 | 127 certificates | 49% |
| 12 | Chattahoochee Technical CollegeJasper | $3,540 | 240 certificates | 38% |
| 13 | South Georgia Technical CollegeAmericus | $3,992 | 113 certificates | 61% |
| 14 | Lanier Technical CollegeGainesville | $3,980 | 212 certificates | 34% |
| 15 | Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeClarkston | $3,386 | 30 certificates | 44% |
| 16 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-AtlantaDuluth | $16,657 | 94 certificates | 46% |
| 17 | Augusta Technical CollegeAugusta | $4,282 | 162 certificates | 31% |
| 18 | Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville | $3,524 | 82 certificates | 32% |
| 19 | Fortis College-SmyrnaSmyrna | $15,543 | 52 certificates |
Welding programs in Georgia, 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 Georgia Welding Schools
Each Georgia 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 Georgia by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Most Welding Awards, Working Adults and Highest Completion
Welding Programs in Georgia Near Atlanta and Riverdale
Welding classes in Georgia are easiest to keep up with at a campus you can reach on lab days, so start with the city you can commute from. Each program is grouped with the nearest city guide within 45 miles.
Welding Schools in Georgia, College by College
1Coastal Pines Technical College, Hazlehurst, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,268 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 243 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
2Central Georgia Technical College, Macon, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 10 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,448 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 546 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
3Southern Regional Technical College, Moultrie, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,007 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 307 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
4Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Valdosta, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,480 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 227 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
5Oconee Fall Line Technical College, Sandersville, Georgia
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 6 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,380 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 157 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
6West Georgia Technical College, LaGrange, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,410 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 319 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
7Savannah Technical College, Savannah, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,330 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 206 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
8Athens Technical College, Athens, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,390 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 166 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe
9Southern Crescent Technical College, Griffin, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,516 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 176 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
10Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Rome, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,300 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 173 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
11Atlanta Technical College, Atlanta, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,382 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 127 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
12Chattahoochee Technical College, Jasper, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 11 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,540 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 240 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
13South Georgia Technical College, Americus, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,992 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 113 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
14Lanier Technical College, Gainesville, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,980 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 212 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
15Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Clarkston, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,386 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 30 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
16Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta, Duluth, Georgia
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $16,657 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 94 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
17Augusta Technical College, Augusta, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,282 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 162 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
18Gwinnett Technical College, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,524 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 82 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
19Fortis College-Smyrna, Smyrna, Georgia
Offers a diploma in welding
- Tuition / year
- $15,543 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 52 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 Georgia: 6 Programs Teach Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- West Georgia Technical CollegeDay classes 8:00am-1:00pm at Carroll, LaGrange and Murphy; evening classes 4:00pm-9:00pm at Carroll, Douglas and LaGrange (diploma checklist, fall start).
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical CollegeDiploma length of program: 5 terms; basic and advanced SMAW certificates 1 term each; GMAW, GTAW and FCAW certificates 2 terms.
- Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeDiploma: accepted every semester; a full-time student can complete it in 4 semesters. Pipe SMAW certificate: 2 semesters full time.
- Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeDiploma entrance dates: Fall and Spring semester (pre-occupational courses any semester).
- Savannah Technical CollegeAvailability: in-person, night and weekend; diploma minimum length 3 terms.
- Southern Regional Technical CollegeDiploma length: three semesters; entrance at the beginning of each semester.
- Athens Technical CollegeFully in person.
- South Georgia Technical CollegeDiploma entrance date: each semester.
- Augusta Technical CollegeDiploma: four terms, entrance fall, spring and summer; certificates list Augusta day and evening program sequences.
- Lanier Technical CollegeDiploma: 4 semesters; students accepted each semester based on space and course availability.
- Atlanta Technical CollegeDiploma minimum 3 semester terms; welding is listed among Atlanta Tech's evening (E) option programs.
- Gwinnett Technical CollegeClasses scheduled for morning, afternoon and evening; students may begin in fall and spring semesters.
More Welding Programs in Georgia: Colleges That Award Welding Credentials
Welding credentials each college conferred in 2022–23 (IPEDS). Confirm current program details with each college.
- Southeastern Technical College, Vidalia92
- Ogeechee Technical College, Statesboro67
- Columbus Technical College, Columbus65
- North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville56
- Albany Technical College, Albany43
What Welding School Costs in Georgia: $3,007 to $16,657 a Year
Among the 19 Georgia welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $3,007 at Southern Regional Technical College to $16,657 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more. See the Welding School Cost in Georgia guide for books, program length and how to cut costs.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Regional Technical College | Moultrie | $3,007 (in-state) |
| Coastal Pines Technical College | Hazlehurst | $3,268 (in-state) |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome | $3,300 (in-state) |
| Savannah Technical College | Savannah | $3,330 (in-state) |
| Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville | $3,380 (in-state) |
| Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta | $3,382 (in-state) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Georgia: The Savannah Area Pays the Most
For pay by metro area and by welding job, see Welder Salary in Georgia.
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah | $56,410 | $67,210 | 460 |
| Augusta–Richmond County | $50,800 | $71,010 | 680 |
| Warner Robins | $50,170 | $62,400 | 340 |
| Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell | $49,630 | $69,300 | 5,240 |
| Chattanooga | $49,220 | $69,320 | 1,850 |
| Gainesville | $48,430 | $58,230 | 890 |
| Brunswick–St. Simons | $48,380 | $61,930 | 80 |
| Athens–Clarke County | $47,970 | $60,190 | 370 |
| Valdosta | $47,240 | $61,200 | 180 |
| Dalton | $47,190 | $58,900 | 120 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Georgia (13,130 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Georgia
Welding Schools in Georgia: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Georgia Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Georgia colleges on this page run from $3,007 to $16,657 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Georgia?
Georgia programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Central Georgia Technical College lists Welding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) (54 credit hours) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder TCC (FS31) (12 credit hours); West Georgia Technical College lists Welding & Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) (54 credit hours); Coastal Pines Technical College lists Welding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) (54 credit hours) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder (FS31) (12 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Georgia?
BLS estimates a median of $48,430 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Georgia (May 2025), across 13,130 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,030 and the top 10% earn more than $65,160.
What Is the Best Welding School in Georgia?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Coastal Pines Technical College ranks first among Georgia colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Central Georgia Technical College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Georgia?
Yes. 6 welding schools in Georgia publish evening or weekend sections, including West Georgia Technical College, Savannah Technical College and Augusta Technical College.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Georgia?
19 schools have a current welding program in Georgia, each checked against the school's own program page, and one offers an associate degree.
What Is the Most Affordable Welding School in Georgia?
Southern Regional Technical College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Georgia welding schools with federal figures: $3,007 for a full-time year (in-state). Coastal Pines Technical College ($3,268) and Georgia Northwestern Technical College ($3,300) follow.
Which Georgia Welding Schools Offer an Associate Degree?
Oconee Fall Line Technical College offers a welding associate degree, usually alongside shorter certificates.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Georgia?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta describes American Welding Society (AWS) testing or certification on its program page. Its 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 Georgia
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 19 Georgia 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.