What Is the Best Welding School Near Belleville?
Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) is the leading choice among welding schools near Belleville. Its Welding Technology program meets at 2500 Carlyle Avenue in Belleville, with day and evening classes, and offers an AAS plus Basic, Advanced Skills, and Advanced Manufacturing certificates. SWIC conferred 150 welding certificates in 2024–25 and charged $3,960 a year in-district.
SWIC Welding Options in Belleville
SWIC's certificates stack, so you can start small and keep going.
Basic Welding Certificate
The entry point, covering the core processes and safety.
Advanced Skills and Advanced Manufacturing
Two advanced certificates that build toward the Welding Technology AAS.
Welding Technology AAS
The full degree, covering SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, cutting, print reading, fit-up, and inspection.
Other Campuses
If a class isn't offered in Belleville, SWIC also teaches welding at Granite City, East St. Louis, and Red Bud.
Welding Schools Near Belleville by the Numbers
| College | Tuition | Certificates | Associate | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois College | $3,960 | 150 | 5 | 36% |
Tuition and fees for a full-time year and welding credentials conferred, both 2024–25; completion is the college-wide federal graduation rate. Source: NCES College Navigator, retrieved September 24, 2026. Blank cells mean the college reports no figure for that field.
Welding Programs Near Belleville
Tuition on each card is the lowest 2024–25 full-time resident rate at these welding schools near Belleville, IL.
Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,960 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 155 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Welding Classes Near Belleville: Getting Started
You can start with the Basic certificate in an evening section and add the advanced certificates as you go. Belleville welding programs at SWIC also sit within reach of St. Louis-area employers, and they prepare you for AWS certification.
Welder Salary in Illinois
Annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers across Illinois (16,260 jobs; U.S. median $53,750). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Belleville Welding FAQ
How Much Does Welding School Cost Near Belleville?
For 2024–25, SWIC's in-district tuition and fees came to $3,960, with books estimated at $2,400.
How Much Do Welders Make in Illinois?
The Illinois median is $51,320 a year (BLS, May 2025).
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
Reviewed September 24, 2026.