What Do Welding Schools in Cleveland Cost?
- Most affordable: Lakeland Community College, $3,872 a year for residents (2024-2025). Highest: Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls, $14,596.
- Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, 3 miles away, offers Welding and Fabrication Technology and Associate of Applied Science in Welding and Fabrication Technology.
- Polaris Career Center in Middleburg Heights, 11 miles away, offers Welding.
- Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, 20 miles away, offers Welding and Fabrication Technology AAS (9414) and FCAW (Flux Cored) Welding Certificate (4333).
- Welding classes in Cleveland: 1 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
- Welder pay in the Cleveland, OH metro area: a median $49,040 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Welding School Tuition Near Cleveland, Lowest First
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland Community CollegeKirtland | 20 miles | $3,872 | 5 certificates, 1 associate | 24% |
| Lorain County Community CollegeElyria | 21 miles | $4,265 | 103 certificates | 31% |
| Fortis College-Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga Falls | 26 miles | $14,596 | 26 certificates | |
| Ohio Technical CollegeCleveland | 3 miles | 48 certificates, 20 associate | ||
| Polaris Career CenterMiddleburg Heights | 11 miles | 21 certificates | ||
| Auburn Career CenterConcord Twp | 25 miles | 17 certificates | ||
| Lorain County Joint Vocational School DistrictOberlin | 32 miles | 27 certificates | ||
| Portage Lakes Career CenterUniontown | 39 miles | 15 certificates |
Welding programs near Cleveland, 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 Cleveland for What You Need
Welding Schools in Cleveland: Ohio Technical College and 7 Others
Ohio Technical College, Cleveland, Ohio
Offers an associate degree and one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 68 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Lorain County Community College, Elyria, Ohio
Offers 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,265 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 103 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · Fabrication · Inspection
Lorain County Joint Vocational School District, Oberlin, Ohio
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 27 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Fabrication
Polaris Career Center, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Offers one other award in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 21 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Lakeland Community College, Kirtland, Ohio
Offers an associate degree and 6 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,872 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 6 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Auburn Career Center, Concord Twp, Ohio
Offers a certificate and 4 other awards in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 5 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 17 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication
Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Offers a diploma in welding
- Tuition / year
- $14,596 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 26 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Fabrication
Portage Lakes Career Center, Uniontown, Ohio
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 15 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Fabrication · Inspection
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 Cleveland.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Cleveland?
Polaris Career Center, Lorain County Community College and Auburn Career Center offer certificates only; Ohio Technical College and Lakeland Community College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- Ohio Technical CollegeWelding and Fabrication Technology: 1200 clock hours; Associate of Applied Science in Welding and Fabrication Technology: 1640 clock hours / 112 quarter credit hours (catalog)
- Polaris Career CenterWelding: 600 clock hours
- Lakeland Community CollegeWelding and Fabrication Technology AAS (9414): 65 credit hours; FCAW (Flux Cored) Welding Certificate (4333): 6 credit hours; GMAW (MIG/MAG) Welding Certificate (4334): 6 credit hours
- Lorain County Community CollegeWelding Technology - Welding Operator, One-Year Technical Certificate (#6008): 35 credit hours; Welding Technology - Welding, Short-Term Technical Certificate (#6009): 19-20 credit hours; Welding Technology - Basic Welding, Short-Term Technical Certificate (#6006): 17 credit hours
- Auburn Career CenterWelding: 620 clock hours; Stick Welding (module): 124 clock hours; Intermediate Stick Welding (module): 124 clock hours
- Lorain County Joint Vocational School DistrictWelding/Fabrication: 180 clock hours
- Portage Lakes Career CenterWelding: 600 clock hours
Welding Classes in Cleveland: Polaris Career Center Teaches Evenings or Weekends
- Ohio Technical College48 weeks; courses are M, T, W, Th (4-day school week)
- Polaris Career CenterFall 2026 evening: Monday-Thursday 5:00-9:30 p.m., Aug. 25, 2026 - May 17, 2027 (approx.); 600 hours (36 weeks)
- Fortis College-Cuyahoga FallsGraduate in as little as 48 instructional weeks
- Lorain County Joint Vocational School DistrictJanuary 25, 2027 - May 4, 2027; Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 4:30-9:00 PM
- Portage Lakes Career CenterMonday-Thursday, 5 pm-9 pm; finish in less than 10 months
Welder Pay Around Cleveland
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Cleveland, OH metro area (3,510 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Questions About Welding Schools in Cleveland
How Much Do Welding Schools in Cleveland Cost?
Lakeland Community College charges the least, $3,872 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls charges $14,596. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Lakeland Community College budgets $800 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Cleveland?
Ohio Technical College lists Welding and Fabrication Technology (1200 clock hours) and Associate of Applied Science in Welding and Fabrication Technology (1640 clock hours / 112 quarter credit hours (catalog)), Polaris Career Center lists Welding (600 clock hours) and Lakeland Community College lists Welding and Fabrication Technology AAS (9414) (65 credit hours) and FCAW (Flux Cored) Welding Certificate (4333) (6 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Cleveland?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $49,040 a year (BLS, May 2025), 9% below the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $68,640.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Cleveland?
Ohio Technical College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 68 welding awards in 2024-2025. Lorain County Community College ranks second.
Are There Night Welding Classes Near Cleveland?
Yes. Polaris Career Center publishes evening or weekend sections: Fall 2026 evening: Monday-Thursday 5:00-9:30 p.m., Aug. 25, 2026 - May 17, 2027 (approx.); 600 hours (36 weeks)
Welding Programs Near Cleveland but Farther Out
- Wayne County Schools Career Center, Smithville44 miles
- Stark State College, North Canton44 miles
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Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 8 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.