What Are the Best Welding Schools in Missouri?
- Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City (Kansas City) offers Welding Technology & Management, A.A.S. and Certificate: GMAW (AWS Modular Certification).
- East Central College (Union) offers Welding, AAS and Welding, Certificate of Achievement (CA).
- Crowder College (Joplin) offers Welding AAS and Plate Certificate.
- Resident tuition and fees run from $3,048 to $18,008 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Missouri: 6 of the verified welding programs in Missouri list evening or weekend sections.
- Missouri welders earn a median $51,950 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Leads the Missouri Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City | $3,630 | 69 certificates, 1 associate | 34% |
| 2 | East Central CollegeUnion | $4,272 | 35 certificates, 5 associate | 48% |
| 3 | Crowder CollegeJoplin | $6,180 | 40 certificates, 5 associate | 49% |
| 4 | State Technical College of MissouriLinn | $8,160 | 5 certificates, 37 associate | 84% |
| 5 | Midwest Technical Institute-MissouriSpringfield | 121 certificates | ||
| 6 | Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield | $4,512 | 60 certificates, 4 associate | 33% |
| 7 | Jefferson CollegeHillsboro | $5,250 | 13 certificates, 15 associate | 38% |
| 8 | St Charles Community CollegeWentzville | $3,048 | 9 certificates, 9 associate | 25% |
| 9 | Ranken Technical CollegeSt. Louis | $18,008 | 59 certificates | 53% |
| 10 | Franklin Technology Center Adult EducationJoplin | 16 certificates | ||
| 11 | Southern Missouri Technical InstituteWest Plains | 12 certificates | ||
| 12 | Three Rivers CollegePoplar Bluff | $4,950 | 6 certificates, 1 associate | 33% |
| 13 | Grand River Technical SchoolChillicothe | 4 certificates |
Welding programs in Missouri, 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 Missouri Welding Schools
Each Missouri 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 Missouri by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Most Welding Awards, Working Adults and Highest Completion
Welding Programs in Missouri Near St. Louis, Nixa and Kennett
Welding classes in Missouri 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.
Welding Schools in Missouri, College by College
1Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,630 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 70 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
2East Central College, Union, Missouri
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,272 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 40 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
3Crowder College, Joplin, Missouri
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,180 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 45 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Pipe · Fabrication
4State Technical College of Missouri, Linn, Missouri
Offers an associate degree in welding
- Tuition / year
- $8,160 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 42 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Cutting · Fabrication · Robotic · Inspection
5Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri, Springfield, Missouri
Offers 2 other awards in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 121 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
6Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, Missouri
Offers 2 associate degrees and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,512 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 64 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
7Jefferson College, Hillsboro, Missouri
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,250 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 28 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting
8St Charles Community College, Wentzville, Missouri
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,048 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 18 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
9Ranken Technical College, St. Louis, Missouri
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $18,008 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 59 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Cutting · Fabrication
10Franklin Technology Center Adult Education, Joplin, Missouri
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 16 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication
11Southern Missouri Technical Institute, West Plains, Missouri
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 12 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Fabrication
12Three Rivers College, Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,950 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 7 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
13Grand River Technical School, Chillicothe, Missouri
Offers a certificate and one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 4 conferred 2024–25
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
Welding Classes in Missouri: 6 Programs Teach Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityDay and evening classes; exploratory WELD 110 and WELD 130 run as 8-week classes offered twice per semester at MCC-Penn Valley ATSI.
- Ozarks Technical Community CollegeAAS approx. 2 years/4 semesters; certificates approx. 1 year/2 semesters; Industrial Welding Specialist is a 20-week program (Springfield Campus only).
- Midwest Technical Institute-MissouriDaytime and evening classes available; schedules vary by campus. Welding: 30 weeks; Welding & Pipefitting: 40 weeks.
- Ranken Technical CollegeDay program: 8 weeks of instruction alternating with 8 weeks of paid internship for two semesters. Evening program: two nights a week, completed in 9 months.
- East Central CollegeFast Track classes meet 4 days or evenings every week for 16 weeks.
- State Technical College of MissouriTwo-year program.
- Jefferson CollegeSeparate day and night academic plans for both the AAS and certificate.
- Grand River Technical SchoolPost-high students attend about 6.75 hours per day for nine months (Welding Technology) and 6.5 hours per day for nine months (Advanced).
- Franklin Technology Center Adult EducationEvening cohorts: Monday - Thursday, 5 pm-10 pm, plus 5 hybrid hours per week (Fall 2026-27: Aug 10, 2026 - Feb 18, 2027; Spring 2026-27: Nov 30, 2026 - Jun 9, 2027).
- Southern Missouri Technical InstituteNine months; monthly enrollment; Monday through Thursday, 3:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
What Welding School Costs in Missouri: $3,048 to $18,008 a Year
Among the 10 Missouri welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $3,048 at St Charles Community College to $18,008 at Ranken Technical College. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| St Charles Community College | Wentzville | $3,048 (in-district) |
| Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | Kansas City | $3,630 (in-district) |
| St. Louis Community College | St. Louis | $3,660 (in-district) |
| East Central College | Union | $4,272 (in-district) |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | $4,512 (in-district) |
| Three Rivers College | Poplar Bluff | $4,950 (in-district) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Missouri: The St. Joseph Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | $66,060 | $66,060 | 610 |
| Kansas City | $57,370 | $78,150 | 2,710 |
| Springfield | $54,080 | $60,780 | 1,060 |
| Columbia | $52,700 | $59,020 | 200 |
| St. Louis | $51,640 | $72,140 | 2,820 |
| Jefferson City | $51,580 | $59,070 | 360 |
| Cape Girardeau | $48,580 | $59,280 | 170 |
| Joplin | $45,770 | $60,930 | 570 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Missouri (10,600 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Missouri
- St. Louis
- O'Fallon
- Florissant
- Wentzville
- Wildwood
- Kirkwood
- Maryland Heights
- Hazelwood
- Nixa
- Arnold
- Creve Coeur
- Ferguson
- Poplar Bluff
- Lemay
- Overland
- Fort Leonard Wood
- Dardenne Prairie
- Mexico
- Bellefontaine Neighbors
- Kennett
- Springfield
- Columbia
- Joplin
- Warrensburg
- Festus
- Union
- West Plains
- Town and Country
- Nevada
- Fredericktown
- Brookfield
- Bunker
Welding Schools in Missouri: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Missouri Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Missouri colleges on this page run from $3,048 to $18,008 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Missouri?
Missouri programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Ozarks Technical Community College lists Welding Technology – Stainless (A.A.S.) (63 credit hours) and Welding Technology – Structural (A.A.S.) (63 credit hours); Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri lists 7-month Welding Program (720 clock hours) and 10-month Welding & Pipefitting Program (960 clock hours); East Central College lists Welding, Certificate of Specialization (SP) - Fast Track (22 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Missouri?
BLS estimates a median of $51,950 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Missouri (May 2025), across 10,600 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,200 and the top 10% earn more than $78,150.
What Is the Best Welding School in Missouri?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City ranks first among Missouri colleges with verified welding programs, followed by East Central College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Missouri?
Yes. 6 welding schools in Missouri publish evening or weekend sections, including Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri and Ranken Technical College.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Missouri?
14 schools have a current welding program in Missouri, each checked against the school's own program page, and 8 offer an associate degree.
What Is the Most Affordable Welding School in Missouri?
St Charles Community College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Missouri welding schools with federal figures: $3,048 for a full-time year (in-district). Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City ($3,630) and St. Louis Community College ($3,660) follow.
Which Missouri Welding Schools Offer an Associate Degree?
Crowder College, East Central College and Jefferson College and 5 more offer a welding associate degree, usually alongside shorter certificates.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Missouri?
Crowder College, East Central College and Franklin Technology Center Adult Education and 6 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 Missouri
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 13 Missouri 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.