What Are the Best Welding Schools in Louisiana?
- Central Louisiana Technical Community College (Alexandria) offers Welding (Construction or Manufacturing concentration), Technical Diploma and CTS - Welding I.
- Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (Minden) offers Welding Technology, Technical Diploma and Welder Helper - Level I, Certificate of Technical Studies.
- Northshore Technical Community College (Hammond) offers Welding Program.
- Resident tuition and fees run from $4,079 to $4,321 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Louisiana: 2 of the verified welding programs in Louisiana list evening or weekend sections.
- Louisiana welders earn a median $62,250 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Central Louisiana Technical Community College Leads the Louisiana Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Louisiana Technical Community CollegeAlexandria | $4,099 | 205 certificates | 70% |
| 2 | Northwest Louisiana Technical Community CollegeMinden | $4,109 | 123 certificates | 77% |
| 3 | Northshore Technical Community CollegeHammond | $4,299 | 369 certificates | 40% |
| 4 | Louisiana Delta Community CollegeMonroe | $4,159 | 188 certificates | 30% |
| 5 | South Louisiana Community CollegeAbbeville | $4,210 | 158 certificates | 30% |
| 6 | SOWELA Technical Community CollegeLake Charles | $4,305 | 123 certificates | 43% |
| 7 | Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge | $4,321 | 141 certificates | 31% |
| 8 | Bossier Parish Community CollegeNatchitoches | $4,283 | 190 certificates | 15% |
| 9 | River Parishes Community CollegeGonzales | $4,079 | 26 certificates | 30% |
| 10 | Fletcher Technical Community CollegeSchriever | $4,219 | 83 certificates | 30% |
| 11 | Nunez Community CollegeChalmette | $4,255 | 70 certificates | 27% |
| 12 | Delgado Community CollegeAvondale | $4,279 | 75 certificates | 24% |
Welding programs in Louisiana, 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 Louisiana Welding Schools
Each Louisiana 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 Louisiana by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Most Welding Awards, Working Adults and Highest Completion
Welding Programs in Louisiana Near Prairieville and Shreveport
Welding classes in Louisiana 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.
- PrairievilleBaton Rouge Community College, Fletcher Technical Community College and River Parishes Community College
- ShreveportNorthwest Louisiana Technical Community College and Bossier Parish Community College
Welding Schools in Louisiana, College by College
1Central Louisiana Technical Community College, Alexandria, Louisiana
Offers a diploma and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,099 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 205 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication
2Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, Minden, Louisiana
Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,109 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 123 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
3Northshore Technical Community College, Hammond, Louisiana
Offers a diploma in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,299 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 369 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
4Louisiana Delta Community College, Monroe, Louisiana
Offers 2 diplomas in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,159 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 188 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
5South Louisiana Community College, Abbeville, Louisiana
Offers a diploma and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,210 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 158 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
6SOWELA Technical Community College, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,305 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 123 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
7Baton Rouge Community College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Offers an associate degree, a diploma, 2 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,321 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 141 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
8Bossier Parish Community College, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Offers a diploma and 8 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,283 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 190 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored
9River Parishes Community College, Gonzales, Louisiana
Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,079 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 26 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe
10Fletcher Technical Community College, Schriever, Louisiana
Offers an associate degree, a diploma, 6 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,219 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 83 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
11Nunez Community College, Chalmette, Louisiana
Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,255 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 70 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick
12Delgado Community College, Avondale, Louisiana
Offers 3 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,279 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 75 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
Welding Classes in Louisiana: 2 Programs Teach Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- Central Louisiana Technical Community CollegeDesigned to be completed in two years; page mentions flexible schedules and evening classes.
- Northwest Louisiana Technical Community CollegeCourses generally last at least one eight-week term.
- South Louisiana Community CollegeDiploma runs three semesters; Advanced Welding Technology starts in the Fall at the St. Martinville Campus.
- Delgado Community CollegeNon-credit Welding Upgrade Training meets Saturdays 7:00 a.m. to noon for 12 consecutive weeks at River City Site.
- Fletcher Technical Community CollegeNon-credit AWS Welding Basics night class meets 5:30-8:30pm Monday through Thursday.
- River Parishes Community CollegeFour semesters of 12 credit hours each.
What Welding School Costs in Louisiana: $4,079 to $4,321 a Year
Among the 12 Louisiana welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $4,079 at River Parishes Community College to $4,321 at Baton Rouge Community College. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| River Parishes Community College | Gonzales | $4,079 (all students) |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | Alexandria | $4,099 (all students) |
| Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College | Minden | $4,109 (all students) |
| Louisiana Delta Community College | Monroe | $4,159 (all students) |
| South Louisiana Community College | Abbeville | $4,210 (all students) |
| Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever | $4,219 (all students) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Louisiana: The Baton Rouge Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $78,170 | $92,270 | 3,690 |
| Lake Charles | $72,920 | $88,110 | 970 |
| Alexandria | $64,490 | $83,510 | 230 |
| Shreveport–Bossier City | $63,610 | $79,090 | 910 |
| New Orleans–Metairie | $63,270 | $82,600 | 2,000 |
| Slidell–Mandeville–Covington | $60,810 | $75,390 | 330 |
| Hammond | $58,490 | $79,790 | 60 |
| Lafayette | $57,750 | $76,030 | 1,860 |
| Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux | $56,990 | $74,580 | 1,350 |
| Monroe | $51,870 | $70,660 | 420 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Louisiana (13,690 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Louisiana
Welding Schools in Louisiana: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Louisiana Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Louisiana colleges on this page run from $4,079 to $4,321 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Louisiana?
Louisiana programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Baton Rouge Community College lists Welding, Technical Diploma (45 credit hours) and CTS: Structural Welder (24 credit hours); South Louisiana Community College lists Welding Technology Technical Diploma (1155 contact hours) and Advanced Welding Technology (certificate) (990 contact hours); Delgado Community College lists Shielded Metal Arc Welding, CTS (24 credit hours) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, CTS (24 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Louisiana?
BLS estimates a median of $62,250 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Louisiana (May 2025), across 13,690 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,810 and the top 10% earn more than $81,750.
What Is the Best Welding School in Louisiana?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Central Louisiana Technical Community College ranks first among Louisiana colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Louisiana?
Yes. 2 welding schools in Louisiana publish evening or weekend sections, including Central Louisiana Technical Community College and Fletcher Technical Community College.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Louisiana?
12 schools have a current welding program in Louisiana, each checked against the school's own program page, and 2 offer an associate degree.
What Is the Most Affordable Welding School in Louisiana?
River Parishes Community College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Louisiana welding schools with federal figures: $4,079 for a full-time year (all students). Central Louisiana Technical Community College ($4,099) and Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College ($4,109) follow.
Which Louisiana Welding Schools Offer an Associate Degree?
Baton Rouge Community College and Fletcher Technical Community College offer a welding associate degree, usually alongside shorter certificates.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Louisiana?
Baton Rouge Community College, Fletcher Technical Community College and Louisiana Delta Community College and 3 other schools describe American Welding Society (AWS) testing or certification on their program pages. Each 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 Louisiana
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 12 Louisiana 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.