Grayslake Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Grayslake, IL

3 of the 8 welding programs within 60 miles of Grayslake publish evening or weekend sections, so you can keep a day job while you train.

A TIG torch held in a fixture over an aluminum tube joint on a welding bench
Photo: Peter Xie / Pexels

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

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
College of Lake CountyGurnee5 miles$4,788198 certificates, 9 associate37%
McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake18 miles$4,16248 certificates37%
William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine18 miles$3,894101 certificates, 9 associate48%
Elgin Community CollegeElgin27 miles$3,25247 certificates, 8 associate41%
Triton CollegeRiver Grove31 miles$5,07061 certificates29%
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkMelrose Park32 miles56 certificates
Gateway Technical CollegeElkhorn, WI34 miles$4,956176 certificates51%
College of DuPageGlen Ellyn35 miles$4,56032 certificates, 9 associate25%

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

Palatine · 18 mi from GrayslakePublic, 2-year

William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
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

Gurnee · 5 mi from GrayslakePublic, 2-year

College of Lake County, Gurnee, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
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 · 27 mi from GrayslakePublic, 2-year

Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding

  • Lowest Tuition in IL
  • Evening Classes
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

Elkhorn, WI · 34 mi from GrayslakePublic, 2-year

Gateway Technical College, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Offers 2 diplomas in welding

  • Evening Classes
  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$4,956
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
176
conferred 2024–25

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

Melrose Park · 32 mi from GrayslakePrivate for-profit, 2-year

Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park, Melrose Park, Illinois

Offers one other award in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Pipe Welding
Welding awards offered
1
certificates and degrees
Welding awards
56
conferred 2024–25

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

Crystal Lake · 18 mi from GrayslakePublic, 2-year

McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
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

Glen Ellyn · 35 mi from GrayslakePublic, 2-year

College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding

  • Evening Classes
  • Weekend Classes
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

River Grove · 31 mi from GrayslakePublic, 2-year

Triton College, River Grove, Illinois

Offers 3 certificates in welding

  • Robotic 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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Guides, Careers and Pay

Sources

  1. Official welding program pages of the 8 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.