Where Can You Take Welding Classes in Grayslake After Work?
- Night or weekend sections: Elgin Community College, Gateway Technical College and College of DuPage.
- College of Lake County in Gurnee, 5 miles away, offers Welding and Fabrication Technology AAS and Welding Certificate (Advanced Welding Fabrication Certificate).
- McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, 18 miles away, offers Welding and Fabrication AAS and Advanced Welding Technician Certificate.
- William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, 18 miles away, offers Associate in Applied Science: Welding Technology and Advanced Welding Certificate.
- Welding classes in Grayslake: 3 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
- Welder pay in Illinois: a median $51,320 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Welding Classes in Grayslake: 3 Colleges Teach Evenings or Weekends
- College of Lake CountyGeneral Welding Certificate is one semester; full-time students can earn the AAS in two years.
- McHenry County CollegeAAS: 80 weeks to complete; Basic and Advanced certificates: 32 weeks; Production certificate: 16 weeks.
- William Rainey Harper CollegeAn entirely 8-week course format option is offered; apprenticeship option also listed.
- Elgin Community CollegeMorning, afternoon, and evening classes are available; certificates can be completed in 4-16 months; AAS is a four-semester program.
- Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkEight courses spanning 960 hours of training.
- Gateway Technical CollegeClasses are offered day and night on the Elkhorn and Racine campuses; start dates Fall, Spring, Summer.
- College of DuPageThe program offers instruction during day, evening and Saturday classes; AAS 4 semesters, certificates 2-4 semesters.
Compare Welding Programs Near Grayslake
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Lake CountyGurnee | 5 miles | $4,788 | 198 certificates, 9 associate | 37% |
| McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake | 18 miles | $4,162 | 48 certificates | 37% |
| William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine | 18 miles | $3,894 | 101 certificates, 9 associate | 48% |
| Elgin Community CollegeElgin | 27 miles | $3,252 | 47 certificates, 8 associate | 41% |
| Triton CollegeRiver Grove | 31 miles | $5,070 | 61 certificates | 29% |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkMelrose Park | 32 miles | 56 certificates | ||
| Gateway Technical CollegeElkhorn, WI | 34 miles | $4,956 | 176 certificates | 51% |
| College of DuPageGlen Ellyn | 35 miles | $4,560 | 32 certificates, 9 associate | 25% |
Welding programs near Grayslake, 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 Grayslake for What You Need
Welding Schools in Grayslake: William Rainey Harper College and 7 Others
William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,894 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 110 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
College of Lake County, Gurnee, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,788 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 207 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication · Robotic
Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,252 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 55 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Gateway Technical College, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Offers 2 diplomas in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,956 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 176 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park, Melrose Park, Illinois
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 56 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,162 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 48 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,560 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 41 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Triton College, River Grove, Illinois
Offers 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,070 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 61 conferred 2024–25
Teaches MIG · TIG · Fabrication · Robotic
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 Grayslake.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Grayslake?
Triton College, Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park and Gateway Technical College offer certificates only; College of Lake County, McHenry County College and William Rainey Harper College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- College of Lake CountyWelding and Fabrication Technology AAS: 61 credit hours; Welding Certificate (Advanced Welding Fabrication Certificate): 45 credit hours; Gas Metal Arc Welding Certificate: 23 credit hours
- McHenry County CollegeWelding and Fabrication AAS: 60 credit hours; Advanced Welding Technician Certificate: 27 credit hours; Basic Welding Technician Certificate: 21 credit hours
- William Rainey Harper CollegeAssociate in Applied Science: Welding Technology: 60 credit hours; Advanced Welding Certificate: 32 credit hours; Welding Fabrication Certificate: 33 credit hours
- Elgin Community CollegeWelding Fabrication Technology - Associate of Applied Science: 62 credit hours; Welding - Vocational Specialist: 37 credit hours; Welding - Basic Vocational Specialist: 23 credit hours
- Triton CollegeEngineering Technology / Welding Fabrication - Certificate: 16 credit hours; Engineering Technology / Robotics Welding - Certificate: 22 credit hours; Engineering Technology / Illinois Aligned Basic Welding - Certificate: 11 credit hours
- Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkWelding and Fabrication Technology with Pipe: 960 clock hours
- Gateway Technical CollegeWelding Technical Diploma (31-442-1): 43 credit hours; Welding/Maintenance & Fabrication Technical Diploma (30-442-2): 16 credit hours
- College of DuPageWelding Technology, A.A.S.: 64-66 credit hours; Welding, Certificate: 29 credit hours; AWS Sense 1, Certificate: 17 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 Grayslake
How Much Do Welding Schools in Grayslake Cost?
Elgin Community College charges the least, $3,252 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Triton College charges $5,070. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Elgin Community College budgets $1,500 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Grayslake?
College of Lake County lists Welding and Fabrication Technology AAS (61 credit hours) and Welding Certificate (Advanced Welding Fabrication Certificate) (45 credit hours), McHenry County College lists Welding and Fabrication AAS (60 credit hours) and Advanced Welding Technician Certificate (27 credit hours) and William Rainey Harper College lists Associate in Applied Science: Welding Technology (60 credit hours) and Advanced Welding Certificate (32 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Grayslake?
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 Grayslake?
William Rainey Harper College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 110 welding awards in 2024-2025. College of Lake County ranks second.
Are There Night Welding Classes Near Grayslake?
Yes. Elgin Community College, Gateway Technical College and College of DuPage publish evening or weekend sections: Morning, afternoon, and evening classes are available; certificates can be completed in 4-16 months; AAS is a four-semester program.
Welding Programs Near Grayslake but Farther Out
- Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc, Lisle37 miles
- Morton College, Cicero38 miles
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2024–25 tuition at Illinois welding schools, from $3,252 at Elgin Community College to $6,090 at Spoon River College, plus books and full program costs.

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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
- Official welding program pages of the 8 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.
