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Shelby Welding Schools

Welding Schools in Shelby, NC

Resident tuition at the welding schools near Shelby runs from $2,030 to $5,071 a year, so where you enroll changes the bill more than how long you study.

By the Best Welding School editorial teamUpdated September 25, 2026

A TIG torch held in a fixture over an aluminum tube joint on a welding bench
Photo: Peter Xie / Pexels

What Do Welding Schools in Shelby Cost?

  • Most affordable: Isothermal Community College, $2,030 a year for residents (2024-2025). Highest: Spartanburg Community College, $5,071.
  • Cleveland Community College in Shelby, 3 miles away, offers Welding Technology Diploma (D50420) and Welding Technology Certificate (C50420).
  • Gaston College in Dallas, 20 miles away, offers Welding Technology Diploma (D50420) and Welding Technology – Fundamentals I Certificate (C50420A).
  • Isothermal Community College in Spindale, 21 miles away, offers Welding Technology Degree and Welding Technology Diploma.
  • Welding classes in Shelby: 1 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
  • Welder pay in North Carolina: a median $50,590 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Welding School Tuition Near Shelby, Lowest First

CollegeDistanceTuition and feesWelding awardsGraduation rate
Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale21 miles$2,0309 certificates, 7 associate55%
McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion35 miles$2,03224 certificates, 1 associate48%
Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory32 miles$2,42798 certificates, 18 associate35%
Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson39 miles$2,52616 certificates, 14 associate45%
Cleveland Community CollegeShelby3 miles$2,60267 certificates32%
Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton31 miles$2,65019 certificates, 2 associate49%
Gaston CollegeDallas20 miles$3,18658 certificates63%
Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg, SC33 miles$5,07197 certificates28%

Welding programs near Shelby, sorted by resident tuition. 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 Shelby for What You Need

Closest to ShelbyCleveland Community College3 miles from the city centerLowest TuitionIsothermal Community College$2,030 a year, in-state (2024-2025)Most Welding AwardsCatawba Valley Community College116 welding credentials conferred in 2024-2025Degree PathWestern Piedmont Community CollegeWelding Technology DegreeWorking AdultsCaldwell Community College and Technical InstituteEvening or weekend sections publishedHighest CompletionGaston College63% college-wide graduation rate

Welding Schools in Shelby: Catawba Valley Community College and 7 Others

Hickory · 32 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory, North Carolina

Offers an associate degree, 2 diplomas and 2 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
  • Robotic Welding
Tuition / year
$2,427
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
116
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

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

Spindale · 21 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

Isothermal Community College, Spindale, North Carolina

Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 7 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$2,030
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
16
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Cutting · Fabrication · Inspection

Hudson · 39 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson, North Carolina

Offers an associate degree, a diploma and a certificate in welding

  • Evening Classes
  • AWS Testing
Tuition / year
$2,526
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
30
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

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

Marion · 35 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

McDowell Technical Community College, Marion, North Carolina

Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 2 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$2,032
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
25
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

Teaches Cutting · Fabrication · Inspection

Dallas · 20 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

Gaston College, Dallas, North Carolina

Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding

  • Diploma Program
Tuition / year
$3,186
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
58
conferred 2024–25
Shelby · 3 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

Cleveland Community College, Shelby, North Carolina

Offers a diploma and 4 certificates in welding

  • Pipe Welding
Tuition / year
$2,602
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
67
conferred 2024–25

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

Morganton · 31 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

Western Piedmont Community College, Morganton, North Carolina

Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 3 certificates in welding

  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$2,650
in-state, 2024–25
Welding awards
21
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

Spartanburg, SC · 33 mi from ShelbyPublic, 2-year

Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg, South Carolina

Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding

  • AWS Testing
  • Associate Degree
Tuition / year
$5,071
in-district, 2024–25
Welding awards
97
conferred 2024–25

A degree option on top of certificates.

Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication

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 Shelby.

Certificate or Associate Degree Near Shelby?

Cleveland Community College and Gaston College offer certificates only; Isothermal Community College, Western Piedmont Community College and Catawba Valley Community College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.

  • Cleveland Community CollegeWelding Technology Diploma (D50420): 36-38 credit hours; Welding Technology Certificate (C50420): 17 credit hours; Welding Technology - Basic Certificate (C50420C): 15 credit hours
  • Western Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate in Applied Science Degree: 65 credit hours; Welding Diploma: 42 credit hours; Introduction to Welding Certificate: 13 credit hours
  • Catawba Valley Community CollegeWelding Technology Certificate Pathway (C50420P): 18 credit hours (2023-2024 catalog)

Welding Classes in Shelby: Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Teaches Evenings or Weekends

  • Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteOffered at Caldwell Campus and through Night School (Caldwell).

Welder Pay in North Carolina

Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in North Carolina (11,750 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Questions About Welding Schools in Shelby

How Much Do Welding Schools in Shelby Cost?

Isothermal Community College charges the least, $2,030 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Spartanburg Community College charges $5,071. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Isothermal Community College budgets $1,600 for books and supplies).

How Long Does Welding School Take Near Shelby?

Cleveland Community College lists Welding Technology Diploma (D50420) (36-38 credit hours) and Welding Technology Certificate (C50420) (17 credit hours), Western Piedmont Community College lists Associate in Applied Science Degree (65 credit hours) and Welding Diploma (42 credit hours) and Catawba Valley Community College lists Welding Technology Certificate Pathway (C50420P) (18 credit hours (2023-2024 catalog)).

How Much Do Welders Make in Shelby?

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in North Carolina earn a median $50,590 a year (BLS, May 2025), 6% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $71,240.

What Is the Best Welding School Near Shelby?

Catawba Valley Community College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 116 welding awards in 2024-2025. Isothermal Community College ranks second.

Are There Night Welding Classes Near Shelby?

Yes. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute publishes evening or weekend sections: Offered at Caldwell Campus and through Night School (Caldwell).

Welding Programs Near Shelby but Farther Out

  • York Technical College, Rock Hill, SC40 miles
  • Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte41 miles

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North Carolina · Salary

How Much Do Welders Make in North Carolina?

North Carolina welders earned a median $50,590 in May 2025. Compare pay in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greenville and Hickory, and the schools near each market.

Guides, Careers and Pay

Welder Salary in North CarolinaBlogWelding School Cost in North CarolinaBlogWelder Salary by StateBLS pay, May 2025Welding CertificationAWS Certified Welder and CWIWelding CareersJobs, pay and trainingCompare All Welding SchoolsEvery verified program

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.