What Are the Best Welding Schools in Kentucky?
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (Elizabethtown) offers Welding Technology AAS and Combination Welder Diploma.
- Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (Bowling Green) offers Welding Technology AAS and Combination Welder Diploma.
- Gateway Community and Technical College (Florence) offers Welding Technology AAS and Combination Welder Diploma.
- Resident tuition and fees run from $4,728 to $27,998 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Kentucky: 1 of the verified welding programs in Kentucky list evening or weekend sections.
- Kentucky welders earn a median $51,470 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Leads the Kentucky Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown | $4,728 | 370 certificates, 10 associate | 59% |
| 2 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeBowling Green | $4,728 | 406 certificates, 9 associate | 58% |
| 3 | Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence | $4,728 | 313 certificates, 11 associate | 59% |
| 4 | Maysville Community and Technical CollegeMaysville | $4,728 | 754 certificates | 56% |
| 5 | Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeOwensboro | $4,728 | 296 certificates, 5 associate | 54% |
| 6 | Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington | $4,808 | 520 certificates, 15 associate | 43% |
| 7 | Madisonville Community CollegeMadisonville | $4,728 | 101 certificates, 5 associate | 49% |
| 8 | West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegePaducah | $4,728 | 308 certificates | 50% |
| 9 | Somerset Community CollegeSomerset | $4,728 | 340 certificates | 43% |
| 10 | Ashland Community and Technical CollegeAshland | $4,728 | 225 certificates | 51% |
| 11 | Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville | $4,808 | 328 certificates, 5 associate | 35% |
| 12 | Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberland | $4,728 | 244 certificates | 47% |
| 13 | Big Sandy Community and Technical CollegePrestonsburg | $4,728 | 84 certificates, 5 associate | 38% |
| 14 | Hazard Community and Technical CollegeHazard | $4,728 | 108 certificates | 48% |
| 15 | Hopkinsville Community CollegeHopkinsville | $4,728 | 142 certificates | 45% |
| 16 | Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville | $27,998 | 1 certificate | 42% |
Welding programs in Kentucky, ranked by the method below. Tuition is the 2024–25 full-time resident rate and graduation rate is college-wide (NCES College Navigator). Welding awards are credentials conferred in welding (IPEDS). Blank cells mean no federal figure for that college.
How We Ranked Kentucky Welding Schools
Each Kentucky college with a verified, current welding program page gets a percentile score among its in-state peers: program size (35%, welding awards conferred), cost (25%, lowest resident tuition and fees for 2024–25), completion (25%, college-wide graduation rate) and credential ladder (15%, both certificates and associate degrees awarded). Federal data can't measure instructors or equipment, so visit the shop before you enroll.
Best Welding Schools in Kentucky by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Working Adults and Highest Completion
Welding Programs in Kentucky Near Jackson, Radcliff and Bowling Green
Welding classes in Kentucky are easiest to keep up with at a campus you can reach on lab days, so start with the city you can commute from. Each program is grouped with the nearest city guide within 45 miles.
- JacksonHazard Community and Technical College and Big Sandy Community and Technical College
- RadcliffJefferson Community and Technical College and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Bowling GreenSouthcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- GlasgowCampbellsville University
- SomersetSomerset Community College
Welding Schools in Kentucky, College by College
1Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 17 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 380 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting
2Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 415 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting
3Gateway Community and Technical College, Florence, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 16 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 324 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting
4Maysville Community and Technical College, Maysville, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 11 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 754 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
5Owensboro Community and Technical College, Owensboro, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 18 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 301 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication · Robotic
6Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Lexington, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 8 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,808 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 535 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
7Madisonville Community College, Madisonville, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 12 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 106 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
8West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Paducah, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 8 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 308 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting
9Somerset Community College, Somerset, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 18 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 340 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication · Robotic
10Ashland Community and Technical College, Ashland, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 8 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 225 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting
11Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 8 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,808 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 333 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
12Southeast Kentucky Community &Amp; Technical College, Cumberland, Kentucky
Offers a diploma and 11 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 244 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
13Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Prestonsburg, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 9 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 89 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication
14Hazard Community and Technical College, Hazard, Kentucky
Offers a diploma and 18 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 108 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting
15Hopkinsville Community College, Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 6 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 142 conferred 2024–25
Teaches MIG · Cutting
16Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Kentucky
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $27,998 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 1 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
Welding Classes in Kentucky: One Program Teaches Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLeestown and Danville campuses; evening classes at Madison Area Training Center; page cites 'flexible class schedules to accommodate working students'
- Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeTwo-year course rotation published for Louisville and Carrollton sections
- Campbellsville University12-month program; catalog: classes meet Monday through Thursday over six 8-week terms
More Welding Programs in Kentucky: Colleges That Award Welding Credentials
Welding credentials each college conferred in 2022–23 (IPEDS). Confirm current program details with each college.
- Henderson Community College, Henderson32
What Welding School Costs in Kentucky: $4,728 to $27,998 a Year
Among the 16 Kentucky welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $4,728 at Ashland Community and Technical College to $27,998 at Campbellsville University. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | $4,728 (in-state) |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Prestonsburg | $4,728 (in-state) |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Elizabethtown | $4,728 (in-state) |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence | $4,728 (in-state) |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | $4,728 (in-state) |
| Hopkinsville Community College | Hopkinsville | $4,728 (in-state) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Kentucky: The Elizabethtown Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | $59,900 | $71,100 | 660 |
| Lexington–Fayette | $53,680 | $66,300 | 480 |
| Bowling Green | $53,630 | $59,820 | 400 |
| Clarksville | $52,970 | $62,500 | 490 |
| Cincinnati | $51,990 | $73,970 | 3,160 |
| Owensboro | $51,700 | $60,170 | 410 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $50,870 | $70,360 | 1,790 |
| Paducah | $48,560 | $66,580 | 310 |
| Huntington–Ashland | $46,980 | $71,310 | 550 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Kentucky (6,630 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Kentucky
Welding Schools in Kentucky: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Kentucky Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Kentucky colleges on this page run from $4,728 to $27,998 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Kentucky?
Kentucky programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Bluegrass Community and Technical College lists Welding Technology AAS (60-68 credit hours) and Combination Welder Diploma (48-55 credit hours); Maysville Community and Technical College lists Combination Welder Diploma (48-55 credit hours); Gateway Community and Technical College lists Welding Technology AAS (63-68 credit hours) and Combination Welder Diploma (48-55 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Kentucky?
BLS estimates a median of $51,470 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Kentucky (May 2025), across 6,630 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,300 and the top 10% earn more than $69,010.
What Is the Best Welding School in Kentucky?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College ranks first among Kentucky colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Kentucky?
Yes. 1 welding schools in Kentucky publish evening or weekend sections, including Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Kentucky?
16 schools have a current welding program in Kentucky, each checked against the school's own program page, and 13 offer an associate degree.
What Is the Most Affordable Welding School in Kentucky?
Ashland Community and Technical College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Kentucky welding schools with federal figures: $4,728 for a full-time year (in-state). Big Sandy Community and Technical College ($4,728) and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College ($4,728) follow.
Which Kentucky Welding Schools Offer an Associate Degree?
Ashland Community and Technical College, Big Sandy Community and Technical College and Bluegrass Community and Technical College and 10 more offer a welding associate degree, usually alongside shorter certificates.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Kentucky?
Owensboro Community and Technical College describes American Welding Society (AWS) testing or certification on its program page. Its profile shows what the school offers.
Do I Need a Certification to Work as a Welder?
Many employers test welders on their own procedure before hiring. The American Welding Society's Certified Welder program is a performance test with no education or experience prerequisites, taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility.
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More on Welding in Kentucky
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 16 Kentucky colleges above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022–23 and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- American Welding Society, Certified Welder program.