Where Can You Take Welding Classes in Riverdale After Work?
- Night or weekend sections: Atlanta Technical College, Fortis College-Smyrna, Gwinnett Technical College and West Georgia Technical College.
- Atlanta Technical College in Atlanta, 10 miles away, offers Welding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder TCC.
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston, 19 miles away, offers Welding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder (FS31).
- Southern Crescent Technical College in Griffin, 22 miles away, offers NCCER Welding and Joining Technician (Diploma) and NCCER Shielded Metal Arc Welding TCC.
- Welding classes in Riverdale: 4 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
- Welder pay in Georgia: a median $48,430 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Welding Classes in Riverdale: 4 Colleges Teach Evenings or Weekends
- Atlanta Technical CollegeDiploma minimum 3 semester terms; welding is listed among Atlanta Tech's evening (E) option programs.
- Fortis College-Smyrna48 instructional weeks; morning 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. or evening 6:00-11:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta8 months; next start date September 28.
- Gwinnett Technical CollegeClasses scheduled for morning, afternoon and evening; students may begin in fall and spring semesters.
- 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).
Compare Welding Programs Near Riverdale
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Technical CollegeAtlanta | 10 miles | $3,382 | 127 certificates | 49% |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeClarkston | 19 miles | $3,386 | 30 certificates | 44% |
| Southern Crescent Technical CollegeGriffin | 22 miles | $3,516 | 176 certificates | 58% |
| Fortis College-SmyrnaSmyrna | 24 miles | $15,543 | 52 certificates | |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-AtlantaDuluth | 31 miles | $16,657 | 94 certificates | 46% |
| Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville | 34 miles | $3,524 | 82 certificates | 32% |
| West Georgia Technical CollegeLaGrange | 52 miles | $3,410 | 319 certificates | 35% |
Welding programs near Riverdale, 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.
Best Welding Schools in Riverdale for What You Need
Welding Schools in Riverdale: Atlanta Technical College and 6 Others
Atlanta 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
Southern 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
West 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
Aviation 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
Georgia 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
Fortis 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
Gwinnett 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
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 Riverdale.
How Long Welding Programs Near Riverdale Take
- Atlanta Technical CollegeWelding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2): 57 credit hours; Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder TCC: 12 credit hours; Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welder TCC: 12 credit hours
- Southern Crescent Technical CollegeNCCER Welding and Joining Technician (Diploma): 41-42 credit hours; NCCER Shielded Metal Arc Welding TCC: 11 credit hours; NCCER Gas Metal Arc Welding TCC: 11 credit hours
- Fortis College-SmyrnaWelding Technician Diploma: 960 clock hours / 64 quarter credits
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-AtlantaCombination Welding Certificate: 24 credit hours
- Gwinnett Technical CollegeWelding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2): 54 credit hours; Robotic Welding Operator Certificate (RWO1): 20 credit hours
- West Georgia Technical CollegeWelding & Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2): 54 credit hours
Welder Pay in Georgia
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Georgia (13,130 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Questions About Welding Schools in Riverdale
How Much Do Welding Schools in Riverdale Cost?
Atlanta Technical College charges the least, $3,382 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta charges $16,657. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Atlanta Technical College budgets $2,740 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Riverdale?
Atlanta Technical College lists Welding and Joining Technology Diploma (WAJ2) (57 credit hours) and Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder TCC (12 credit hours), Southern Crescent Technical College lists NCCER Welding and Joining Technician (Diploma) (41-42 credit hours) and NCCER Shielded Metal Arc Welding TCC (11 credit hours) and Fortis College-Smyrna lists Welding Technician Diploma (960 clock hours / 64 quarter credits).
How Much Do Welders Make in Riverdale?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Georgia earn a median $48,430 a year (BLS, May 2025), 10% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $65,160.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Riverdale?
Atlanta Technical College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 127 welding awards in 2024-2025. Southern Crescent Technical College ranks second.
Are There Night Welding Classes Near Riverdale?
Yes. Atlanta Technical College, Fortis College-Smyrna and Gwinnett Technical College publish evening or weekend sections: Diploma minimum 3 semester terms; welding is listed among Atlanta Tech's evening (E) option programs.
Welding Programs Near Riverdale but Farther Out
- Chattahoochee Technical College, Jasper62 miles
- Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Rome63 miles
- Lanier Technical College, Gainesville64 miles
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 7 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.