Are Welding Schools in Shreveport Worth the Cost?
- Median welder pay in the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA metro area: $63,610, against $53,750 nationally (BLS, May 2025).
- Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College in Minden, 32 miles away, offers Welding Technology, Technical Diploma and Welder Helper - Level I, Certificate of Technical Studies.
- Panola College in Carthage, TX, 39 miles away, offers Welding Technology AAS and Basic Welding Certificate.
- Welding classes in Shreveport: 2 of these welding schools publish their class schedules below.
Welder Pay Around Shreveport
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA metro area (910 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Compare Welding Programs Near Shreveport
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Louisiana Technical Community CollegeMinden | 32 miles | $4,109 | 123 certificates | 77% |
| Panola CollegeCarthage, TX | 39 miles | $2,352 | 127 certificates, 1 associate | 43% |
Welding programs near Shreveport, 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 Shreveport for What You Need
Welding Schools in Shreveport: Panola College and One Other
Panola College, Carthage, Texas
Offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and 3 other awards in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,352 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 128 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Pipe
Northwest 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
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 Shreveport.
Welding Classes in Shreveport: When Programs Meet
- Northwest Louisiana Technical Community CollegeCourses generally last at least one eight-week term.
- Panola CollegeClasses run at a variety of times.
Questions About Welding Schools in Shreveport
How Much Do Welding Schools in Shreveport Cost?
Panola College charges the least, $2,352 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College charges $4,109. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Panola College budgets $1,500 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Shreveport?
Panola College lists Welding Technology AAS (60 credit hours) and Basic Welding Certificate (16 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Shreveport?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA metro area earn a median $63,610 a year (BLS, May 2025), 18% above the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $79,090.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Shreveport?
Panola College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 128 welding awards in 2024-2025. Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College ranks second.
Welding Programs Near Shreveport but Farther Out
- Kilgore College, Kilgore, TX63 miles
- Bossier Parish Community College, Natchitoches65 miles
- Texarkana College, Texarkana, TX69 miles
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Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 2 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.