What Is the Best Welding School Near Peoria?
Illinois Central College (ICC) is the main option among welding schools near Peoria. Its Welding Specialist certificate combines welding with drafting, machine trades, industrial safety, and mathematics, and ICC expanded its East Peoria welding lab with a federal grant. ICC conferred 129 welding certificates in 2024–25, charged $4,800 a year in-district, and reports a 49% completion rate.
ICC Welding in Brief
ICC's certificate is broader than a pure welding award.
Welding Specialist Certificate
Welding plus drafting, machine trades, industrial safety, and mathematics, which suits manufacturing employers.
Lab Expansion
ICC documented a federally funded expansion of its welding lab on the East Peoria campus.
Many Short Awards
Most of ICC's 2024–25 welding certificates fell in the federal 'under 12 weeks' category.
Completion
ICC's college-wide completion rate was 49% (fall 2021 cohort).
Welding Schools Near Peoria by the Numbers
| College | Tuition | Certificates | Associate | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Central College | $4,800 | 129 | 3 | 49% |
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 Peoria
Tuition on each card is the lowest 2024–25 full-time resident rate at these welding schools near Peoria and East Peoria.
Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,800 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 132 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting
Welding Classes Near East Peoria: Getting Started
ICC suits students who want welding plus the broader manufacturing skills central Illinois employers use. For Peoria welding programs with a community-college price, ICC is the practical first stop. Plan for an employer weld test or AWS certification when you finish.
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.
Peoria Welding FAQ
How Much Does Welding School Cost Near Peoria?
ICC's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $4,800 a year in-district and $12,150 out of state.
How Much Do Welders Make in Illinois?
The Illinois median is $51,320 a year (BLS, May 2025).
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Illinois welders earned a median $51,320 in May 2025. See pay in Peoria, Decatur, Chicago and Rockford, the full pay range, and jobs that pay more.
Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
Reviewed September 24, 2026.