Galesburg Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Galesburg, IL

Carl Sandburg College trains welders in Galesburg, and 5 more welding schools sit within 60 miles.

A welder in a harness stick-welding a steel beam outdoors
Photo: Cesar A. Ramirez Vallejo / Pexels

Is There a Welding School in Galesburg?

  • Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, 3 miles away, offers Welding AAS and Advanced welding certificate.
  • Spoon River College in Canton, 33 miles away, offers Welding Operator Certificate and Welding, Advanced Certificate.
  • Black Hawk College in Moline, 37 miles away, offers College Credit Certificate in Welding and College Credit Certificate in Shielded Metal Arc Welding.
  • Welding classes in Galesburg: 2 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
  • Welder pay in Illinois: a median $51,320 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Best Welding Schools in Galesburg for What You Need

Welding Schools in Galesburg and the Surrounding Area

Galesburg · 3 mi from GalesburgPublic, 2-year

Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$5,390
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
13
conferred 2024–25

The closest campus to Galesburg; the highest college-wide graduation rate here (50%); a degree option on top of certificates.

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

Canton · 33 mi from GalesburgPublic, 2-year

Spoon River College, Canton, Illinois

Offers 2 certificates in welding

  • Certificate Program
Tuition / year
$6,090
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
61
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG

Moline · 37 mi from GalesburgPublic, 2-year

Black Hawk College, Moline, Illinois

Offers 3 certificates and one other award in welding

  • Certificate Program
Tuition / year
$4,920
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
17
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication

Davenport, IA · 41 mi from GalesburgPublic, 2-year

Eastern Iowa Community College District, Davenport, Iowa

Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding

  • Lowest Tuition in IA
  • Evening Classes
Tuition / year
$4,848
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
104
conferred 2024–25

Evening or weekend sections.

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

West Burlington, IA · 43 mi from GalesburgPublic, 2-year

Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, Iowa

Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 3 certificates in welding

  • Evening Classes
  • AWS Testing
Tuition / year
$6,420
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
53
conferred 2024–25

Evening or weekend sections; a degree option on top of certificates.

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

East Peoria · 48 mi from GalesburgPublic, 2-year

Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$4,800
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
132
conferred 2024–25

The lowest resident tuition of the 6 welding schools here ($4,800); the most welding awards nearby (132 in 2024-2025); a degree option on top of certificates.

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · 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 Galesburg.

Carl Sandburg College and 5 More Programs Within 60 Miles

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
Carl Sandburg CollegeGalesburg3 miles$5,3909 certificates, 4 associate50%
Spoon River CollegeCanton33 miles$6,09061 certificates42%
Black Hawk CollegeMoline37 miles$4,92017 certificates40%
Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA41 miles$4,848104 certificates45%
Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington, IA43 miles$6,42048 certificates, 5 associate43%
Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria48 miles$4,800129 certificates, 3 associate49%

Welding programs near Galesburg, 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.

Welding Classes in Galesburg: 2 Colleges Teach Evenings or Weekends

  • Carl Sandburg CollegeSample schedule: 16-week fall semester with weekday welding labs 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1-2:30 p.m.; online and face-to-face class options.
  • Black Hawk CollegeCredit certificate on-campus; short-term non-credit classes are 140 hours (Stick class within six weeks), start dates vary.
  • Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDay and night classes; summer welding certificate in 8 weeks.
  • Southeastern Community CollegeClasses run in the morning, afternoon and evening.
  • Illinois Central CollegeAAS: 24 months / 4 semesters full time; Specialist: 12 months / 2 semesters; Operator: 6 months / 1 semester. Part-time plans via advisors.

Certificate or Associate Degree Near Galesburg?

Spoon River College, Black Hawk College and Eastern Iowa Community College District offer certificates only; Carl Sandburg College, Southeastern Community College and Illinois Central College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.

  • Spoon River CollegeWelding Operator Certificate: 8 credit hours; Welding, Advanced Certificate: 16 credit hours
  • Black Hawk CollegeCollege Credit Certificate in Welding: 31 credit hours; College Credit Certificate in Shielded Metal Arc Welding: 17 credit hours; College Credit Certificate in Gas Metal Arc Welding: 14 credit hours
  • Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictWelder, Diploma: 32 credit hours; Fundamental Welding, Certificate: 16 credit hours
  • Illinois Central CollegeWelding Technology Associate in Applied Science: 60 credit hours; Welding Specialist Certificate: 29 credit hours; Welding Operator Certificate: 13 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 Galesburg

How Much Do Welding Schools in Galesburg Cost?

Illinois Central College charges the least, $4,800 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Southeastern Community College charges $6,420. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Illinois Central College budgets $2,500 for books and supplies).

How Long Does Welding School Take Near Galesburg?

Spoon River College lists Welding Operator Certificate (8 credit hours) and Welding, Advanced Certificate (16 credit hours), Black Hawk College lists College Credit Certificate in Welding (31 credit hours) and College Credit Certificate in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (17 credit hours) and Eastern Iowa Community College District lists Welder, Diploma (32 credit hours) and Fundamental Welding, Certificate (16 credit hours).

How Much Do Welders Make in Galesburg?

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 Galesburg?

Illinois Central College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 132 welding awards in 2024-2025. Eastern Iowa Community College District ranks second.

Are There Night Welding Classes Near Galesburg?

Yes. Eastern Iowa Community College District and Southeastern Community College publish evening or weekend sections: Day and night classes; summer welding certificate in 8 weeks.

Welding Programs Near Galesburg but Farther Out

  • Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby71 miles
  • Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon72 miles

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Sources

  1. Official welding program pages of the 6 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.