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Effingham Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Effingham, IL

There are 5 welding schools in and around Effingham, all within 60 miles. The closest is Lake Land College (23 miles).

By the Best Welding School editorial teamUpdated September 25, 2026

A welder in yellow gloves stick-welding a joint on a large steel pipe as sparks fall
Photo: Sergei Starostin / Pexels

Which Welding Schools in Effingham Should You Compare?

  • Lake Land College in Mattoon, 23 miles away, offers Welding (AAS.WEL) and Welding Technology Certificate (CRT.WEL).
  • Olney Central College in Olney, 36 miles away, offers Welding and Fabrication Associate in Applied Science Degree (WELD D568) and Welding and Cutting Certificate (WELCT C570).
  • Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, 47 miles away, offers Welding Certificate (WELD C276) and Welding and Cutting Certificate (WELCT C570).
  • Welding classes in Effingham: 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 Effingham

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
Lake Land CollegeMattoon23 miles$4,41567 certificates, 4 associate58%
Olney Central CollegeOlney36 miles$5,26021 certificates, 5 associate63%
Lincoln Trail CollegeRobinson47 miles24 certificates
Kaskaskia CollegeCentralia52 miles$4,80034 certificates, 6 associate49%
Richland Community CollegeDecatur56 miles$4,68030 certificates, 2 associate60%

Welding programs near Effingham, 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 Effingham for What You Need

Closest to EffinghamLake Land College23 miles from the city centerDegree PathOlney Central CollegeWelding (AAS.WEL)

Welding Schools in Effingham: Lake Land College and 4 Others

Mattoon · 23 mi from EffinghamPublic, 2-year

Lake Land College, Mattoon, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$4,415
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
71
conferred 2024–25

The closest campus to Effingham; the lowest resident tuition of the 4 welding schools here ($4,415); the most welding awards nearby (71 in 2024-2025); a degree option on top of certificates.

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication

Olney · 36 mi from EffinghamPublic, 2-year

Olney Central College, Olney, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding

  • Evening Classes
  • AWS Testing
Tuition / year
$5,260
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
26
conferred 2024–25

The highest college-wide graduation rate here (63%); evening or weekend sections; a degree option on top of certificates.

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting

Robinson · 47 mi from EffinghamPublic, 2-year

Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, Illinois

Offers 2 certificates in welding

  • Pipe Welding
Welding awards offered
2
certificates and degrees

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting

Centralia · 52 mi from EffinghamPublic, 2-year

Kaskaskia College, Centralia, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$4,800
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
40
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting

Decatur · 56 mi from EffinghamPublic, 2-year

Richland Community College, Decatur, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
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 Effingham.

Welding Classes in Effingham: Olney Central College Teaches Evenings or Weekends

  • Olney Central CollegeThree cohorts (morning, afternoon and evening); one-year certificate and two-year AAS.
  • Kaskaskia CollegeAAS laid out over four semesters (19, 14, 15, 14 credit hours).

Certificate or Associate Degree Near Effingham?

Lincoln Trail College offers certificates only; Lake Land College, Olney Central College and Kaskaskia College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.

  • Lake Land CollegeWelding (AAS.WEL): 60 credit hours; Welding Technology Certificate (CRT.WEL): 26.5 credit hours; Basic Welding (NDP.BWEL): 10.5 credit hours
  • Olney Central CollegeWelding and Fabrication Associate in Applied Science Degree (WELD D568): 62 credit hours; Welding and Cutting Certificate (WELCT C570): 34 credit hours; Welding Certificate (WELD C276): 19 credit hours
  • Lincoln Trail CollegeWelding Certificate (WELD C276): 19 credit hours; Welding and Cutting Certificate (WELCT C570): 34 credit 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 Effingham

How Much Do Welding Schools in Effingham Cost?

Lake Land College charges the least, $4,415 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Olney Central College charges $5,260. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Lake Land College budgets $530 for books and supplies).

How Long Does Welding School Take Near Effingham?

Lake Land College lists Welding (AAS.WEL) (60 credit hours) and Welding Technology Certificate (CRT.WEL) (26.5 credit hours), Olney Central College lists Welding and Fabrication Associate in Applied Science Degree (WELD D568) (62 credit hours) and Welding and Cutting Certificate (WELCT C570) (34 credit hours) and Lincoln Trail College lists Welding Certificate (WELD C276) (19 credit hours) and Welding and Cutting Certificate (WELCT C570) (34 credit hours).

How Much Do Welders Make in Effingham?

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 Effingham?

Lake Land College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 71 welding awards in 2024-2025. Richland Community College ranks second.

Are There Night Welding Classes Near Effingham?

Yes. Olney Central College publishes evening or weekend sections: Three cohorts (morning, afternoon and evening); one-year certificate and two-year AAS.

Welding Programs Near Effingham but Farther Out

  • Vincennes University, Vincennes, IN63 miles
  • Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield70 miles
  • Rend Lake College, Ina71 miles
  • Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois, Springfield75 miles

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Sources

  1. Official welding program pages of the 5 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.