Which Welding Schools in Chatham Should You Compare?
- Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, 5 miles away, offers Basic Multipractice Welding Certificate of Completion and Intermediate-Level Welding Certificate of Completion.
- Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois in Springfield, 13 miles away, offers Welding Program (7 months, 30 weeks; 720 clock hours) and Welding & Pipefitting Program (10 months, 40 weeks; 960 clock hours).
- Richland Community College in Decatur, 45 miles away, offers Welding Technology Associate in Applied Science (0032) and Pipefitting and Pipe Welding Certificate (032B).
- Welding classes in Chatham: 1 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
- Welder pay in Illinois: a median $51,320 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Compare Welding Programs Near Chatham
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield | 5 miles | $3,744 | 91 certificates | 48% |
| Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisSpringfield | 13 miles | 289 certificates | ||
| Richland Community CollegeDecatur | 45 miles | $4,680 | 30 certificates, 2 associate | 60% |
| Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey | 57 miles | $4,340 | 144 certificates, 9 associate | 44% |
Welding programs near Chatham, 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 Chatham for What You Need
Welding Schools in Chatham: Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois and 3 Others
Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois, Springfield, Illinois
Offers 2 other awards in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 289 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe
Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 10 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,340 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 153 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication · Inspection
Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, Illinois
Offers 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,744 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 91 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick
Richland Community College, Decatur, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,680 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 32 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
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. Distances are straight-line from Chatham.
Welding Classes in Chatham: Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois Teaches Evenings or Weekends
- Lincoln Land Community CollegeBasic and SMAW certificates 8-16 weeks; Intermediate 16 weeks in one semester; Advanced 32 weeks over two semesters (fall, spring).
- Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisDaytime and evening classes available; class schedules vary by campus. Upcoming start date listed as October 26th, 2026.
- Lewis and Clark Community CollegeClasses offered both in a traditional scheduled format and through Competency-Based Education (CBE), where students work at their own pace.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Chatham?
Lincoln Land Community College and Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois offer certificates only; Richland Community College and Lewis and Clark Community College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisWelding Program (7 months, 30 weeks; 720 clock hours): 720 clock hours; Welding & Pipefitting Program (10 months, 40 weeks; 960 clock hours): 960 clock hours
- Richland Community CollegeWelding Technology Associate in Applied Science (0032): 62 credit hours; Pipefitting and Pipe Welding Certificate (032B): 47 credit hours; Welding Technician Certificate (032A): 40 credit hours
Welder Pay in Illinois
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Illinois (16,260 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Questions About Welding Schools in Chatham
How Much Do Welding Schools in Chatham Cost?
Lincoln Land Community College charges the least, $3,744 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Richland Community College charges $4,680. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Lincoln Land Community College budgets $912 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Chatham?
Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois lists Welding Program (7 months, 30 weeks; 720 clock hours) (720 clock hours) and Welding & Pipefitting Program (10 months, 40 weeks; 960 clock hours) (960 clock hours) and Richland Community College lists Welding Technology Associate in Applied Science (0032) (62 credit hours) and Pipefitting and Pipe Welding Certificate (032B) (47 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Chatham?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Illinois earn a median $51,320 a year (BLS, May 2025), 5% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $76,730.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Chatham?
Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 289 welding awards in 2024-2025. Lewis and Clark Community College ranks second.
Are There Night Welding Classes Near Chatham?
Yes. Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois publishes evening or weekend sections: Daytime and evening classes available; class schedules vary by campus. Upcoming start date listed as October 26th, 2026.
Welding Programs Near Chatham but Farther Out
- Spoon River College, Canton62 miles
- Heartland Community College, Normal69 miles
- Illinois Central College, East Peoria72 miles
- Lake Land College, Mattoon72 miles
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 4 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.