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Rockford Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Rockford, IL

Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College trains welders in Rockford, and 7 more welding schools sit within 60 miles.

By the Best Welding School editorial teamUpdated September 25, 2026

A welder in an auto-darkening helmet running a MIG bead on steel plate in a fabrication shop
Photo: Rik Schots / Pexels

Is There a Welding School in Rockford?

  • Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College in Rockford, 2 miles away, offers Welding Diploma.
  • Rock Valley College in Rockford, 5 miles away, offers Advanced Welding Certificate (WLD) #8218 and Industrial Welding Certificate (WLD) #8219.
  • Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, WI, 23 miles away, offers Welding Technical Diploma and Welding Fabrication & Robotics Associate Degree.
  • Welding classes in Rockford: 1 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
  • Welder pay in the Rockford, IL metro area: a median $50,200 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Best Welding Schools in Rockford for What You Need

Closest to RockfordStautzenberger College-Rockford Career College2 miles from the city centerLowest TuitionMcHenry County College$4,162 a year, in-district (2024-2025)Most Welding AwardsGateway Technical College176 welding credentials conferred in 2024-2025Degree PathBlackhawk Technical CollegeWelding Fabrication & Robotics Associate Degree

Welding Schools in Rockford and the Surrounding Area

Rockford · 2 mi from RockfordPrivate for-profit, 2-year

Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College, Rockford, Illinois

Offers a diploma in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$16,699
all students, 2024–25
Welding awards
47
conferred 2024–25

The closest campus to Rockford; the highest college-wide graduation rate here (66%).

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

Rockford · 5 mi from RockfordPublic, 2-year

Rock Valley College, Rockford, Illinois

Offers 2 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Robotic Welding
Tuition / year
$4,334
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
45
conferred 2024–25

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

Janesville, WI · 23 mi from RockfordPublic, 2-year

Blackhawk Technical College, Janesville, Wisconsin

Offers an associate degree and 2 diplomas in welding

  • Lowest Tuition in WI
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$4,267
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
25
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

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

Malta · 24 mi from RockfordPublic, 2-year

Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois

Offers 2 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$4,560
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
9
conferred 2024–25

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

Freeport · 31 mi from RockfordPublic, 2-year

Highland Community College, Freeport, Illinois

Offers 2 certificates in welding

  • Certificate Program
Tuition / year
$4,936
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
30
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication

Crystal Lake · 36 mi from RockfordPublic, 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

The lowest resident tuition of the 8 welding schools here ($4,162); a degree option on top of certificates.

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

Elkhorn, WI · 39 mi from RockfordPublic, 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

The most welding awards nearby (176 in 2024-2025); evening or weekend sections.

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

Dixon · 41 mi from RockfordPublic, 2-year

Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon, Illinois

Offers 3 certificates in welding

  • Robotic Welding
Tuition / year
$5,340
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
145
conferred 2024–25

Teaches Stick · 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 Rockford.

Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College and 7 More Programs Within 60 Miles

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeRockford2 miles$16,69947 certificates66%
Rock Valley CollegeRockford5 miles$4,33445 certificates37%
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville, WI23 miles$4,26725 certificates34%
Kishwaukee CollegeMalta24 miles$4,5609 certificates45%
Highland Community CollegeFreeport31 miles$4,93630 certificates45%
McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake36 miles$4,16248 certificates37%
Gateway Technical CollegeElkhorn, WI39 miles$4,956176 certificates51%
Sauk Valley Community CollegeDixon41 miles$5,340145 certificates49%

Welding programs near Rockford, 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 Rockford: Gateway Technical College Teaches Evenings or Weekends

  • Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College10 months, on-campus (in-person only); next session starts September 7, 2026.
  • Kishwaukee CollegeBasic certificate planned over fall and spring semesters (10 + 13 credits); Advanced certificate over three semesters.
  • McHenry County CollegeAAS: 80 weeks to complete; Basic and Advanced certificates: 32 weeks; Production certificate: 16 weeks.
  • Gateway Technical CollegeClasses are offered day and night on the Elkhorn and Racine campuses; start dates Fall, Spring, Summer.

Certificate or Associate Degree Near Rockford?

Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College, Rock Valley College and Kishwaukee College offer certificates only; Blackhawk Technical College and McHenry County College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.

  • Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeWelding Diploma: 64 quarter credit hours
  • Rock Valley CollegeAdvanced Welding Certificate (WLD) #8218: 31 credit hours; Industrial Welding Certificate (WLD) #8219: 16 credit hours
  • Blackhawk Technical CollegeWelding Technical Diploma: 29 credit hours; Welding Fabrication & Robotics Associate Degree: 67 credit hours
  • Kishwaukee CollegeWT 449 - Advanced Welding Technology Certificate: 30 credit hours (minimum); WT 252 - Basic Welding Technology Certificate: 23 credit hours (minimum)
  • Highland Community CollegeWelding and Fabrication, Certificate (614): 23 credit hours; Basic Welding, Certificate (628): 16 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
  • Gateway Technical CollegeWelding Technical Diploma (31-442-1): 43 credit hours; Welding/Maintenance & Fabrication Technical Diploma (30-442-2): 16 credit hours
  • Sauk Valley Community CollegeWelder: Entry Level (H48): 4 credit hours; Welder: Advanced (H49): 16 credit hours; Welder: Robotic Welding (H46): 5 credit hours

Welder Pay Around Rockford

Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Rockford, IL metro area (870 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Questions About Welding Schools in Rockford

How Much Do Welding Schools in Rockford Cost?

McHenry County College charges the least, $4,162 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College charges $16,699. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (McHenry County College budgets $1,400 for books and supplies).

How Long Does Welding School Take Near Rockford?

Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College lists Welding Diploma (64 quarter credit hours), Rock Valley College lists Advanced Welding Certificate (WLD) #8218 (31 credit hours) and Industrial Welding Certificate (WLD) #8219 (16 credit hours) and Blackhawk Technical College lists Welding Technical Diploma (29 credit hours) and Welding Fabrication & Robotics Associate Degree (67 credit hours).

How Much Do Welders Make in Rockford?

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Rockford, IL metro area earn a median $50,200 a year (BLS, May 2025), 7% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $70,710.

What Is the Best Welding School Near Rockford?

Gateway Technical College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 176 welding awards in 2024-2025. McHenry County College ranks second.

Are There Night Welding Classes Near Rockford?

Yes. Gateway Technical College publishes evening or weekend sections: Classes are offered day and night on the Elkhorn and Racine campuses; start dates Fall, Spring, Summer.

Welding Programs Near Rockford but Farther Out

  • Elgin Community College, Elgin42 miles
  • Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove45 miles

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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.