Can You Take Welding Classes Online?
You can take the classroom part of welding online, but you learn to weld in a campus shop. These 24 programs put coursework online and keep the welding labs in person.
- Merced College (Merced, CA) offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding, at $1,200 a year.
- Texarkana College (Texarkana, TX) offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in welding, at $2,476 a year.
- Texas State Technical College (Abilene, TX) offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding, at $7,212 a year.
- Tuition and fees run from $1,200 to $18,375 a year across the schools on this page (2024–25).
- Texas has the most schools on this list (6), then Michigan (2).
Merced College Leads the Hybrid Welding Programs Rankings
Tuition is the 2024–25 full-time rate shown on each school's profile; welding awards are credentials conferred in welding in 2024–25; graduation rate is college-wide. Source: NCES College Navigator. Blank cells mean no federal figure for that school.
How We Ranked Hybrid Welding Programs
Every school with online or hybrid welding coursework with a verified, current welding program page gets a percentile score against the others on this page: 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 shop equipment, so tour the welding lab before you enroll. A school is listed when its own program page says part of the program is online or hybrid.
Best Hybrid Welding Programs by Goal: Top Ranked, Most Welding Awards, Highest Completion and Certificate to Degree
The Top 24 Hybrid Welding Programs, School by School
1Merced College, Merced, California
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $1,200 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 175 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
2Texarkana College, Texarkana, Texas
Offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,476 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 103 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
3Texas State Technical College, Abilene, Texas
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,212 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 588 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Pipe
4Pitt Community College, Winterville, North Carolina
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and 7 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,580 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 136 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
5Houston Community College, Houston, Texas
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,040 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 239 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Pipe · Robotic
6Arkansas State University Mid-South, West Memphis, Arkansas
Offers an associate degree and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,216 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 152 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
7Grayson College, Denison, Texas
Offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,052 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 77 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Fabrication
8Refrigeration School Inc, Phoenix, Arizona
Offers a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 359 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
9North Central Texas College, Bowie, Texas
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,600 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 120 conferred 2024–25
10Western Technical College, El Paso, Texas
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 161 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
11Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor, East Windsor, Connecticut
Offers a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 121 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
12Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
Offers a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 111 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
13Delta College, University Center, Michigan
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,820 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 88 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Fabrication
14Barton County Community College, Great Bend, Kansas
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $3,680 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 58 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
15Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, Illinois
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,390 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 13 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
16Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah, Mahwah, New Jersey
Offers a certificate in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 1 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 77 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
17South Piedmont Community College, Monroe, North Carolina
Offers a diploma and 6 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,022 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 12 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
18Beal University, Bangor, Maine
Offers an associate degree and a diploma in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 2 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 13 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
19Lansing Community College, Lansing, Michigan
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,100 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 41 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
20Western New Mexico University, Silver City, New Mexico
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,856 in-district, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 54 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
21Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa
Offers 3 diplomas and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,525 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 47 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
22Franklin 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
23Charter College, Anchorage, Alaska
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $18,375 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 79 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
24Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Martinsburg, West Virginia
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,752 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 8 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Fabrication
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs, processes and schedules: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
How Each Hybrid Welding Program Splits Online and Shop Time
Schedules as each school publishes them. Confirm the next start date before you apply.
- Merced CollegeMode of Study: Hybrid, On Campus
- Texarkana CollegeFull-time and part-time study with day and night classes, delivered as a blend of face-to-face and online work. The catalog describes a hybrid schedule in which day or night sections vary by semester.
- Texas State Technical CollegeIn person or hybrid, with day and night options.
- Pitt Community CollegeComplete in as few as four semesters full-time or up to ten semesters part-time; welding classes on campus, general education classes can be taken online.
- Houston Community CollegeWelding Automation certificate also available hybrid.
- Arkansas State University Mid-SouthCertificates take one semester; the AAS takes 4 semesters (1-4 semesters, 16-62 credit hours). All welding classes are in-person; AAS general education has online classes.
- Grayson CollegeClasses on the Main Campus and South Campus; the Orbital Welding program is hybrid.
- Refrigeration School Inc7 months; lab 5 hours per day, 4 days a week, one class day; morning, afternoon, evening, weekend and overnight sessions; hybrid online theory.
- North Central Texas CollegeA mix of face-to-face, hybrid, and online classes.
- Western Technical CollegeDay, afternoon or evening classes; hybrid program (online coursework via Canvas plus face-to-face lab); about 13 months.
- Lincoln Technical Institute-East WindsorDay, afternoon and evening programs; day program approximately 42 weeks including holidays and scheduled breaks; hands-on instruction on campus with some coursework online.
- Lincoln College of Technology-IndianapolisDay, afternoon and evening programs; approximately 42 weeks including holidays and scheduled breaks. Hands-on instruction on campus with some coursework online.
- Delta CollegeAAS: 5 semesters (Main Campus/Blended); Advanced Certificate: 3 semesters; Certificate of Achievement: 1 semester.
- Barton County Community CollegeClass options 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Intro to Welding and Blueprint Reading online once each semester
- Carl Sandburg CollegeSample schedule: 16-week fall semester with weekday welding labs 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1-2:30 p.m.; online and face-to-face class options.
Online Welding Classes: Hybrid Welding Programs by State
| State | Schools on this list | Highest ranked in the state |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 6 | Texarkana College (#2) |
| Michigan | 2 | Delta College (#13) |
| North Carolina | 2 | Pitt Community College (#4) |
| Alaska | 1 | Charter College (#23) |
| Arizona | 1 | Refrigeration School Inc (#8) |
| Arkansas | 1 | Arkansas State University Mid-South (#6) |
| California | 1 | Merced College (#1) |
| Connecticut | 1 | Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor (#11) |
| Illinois | 1 | Carl Sandburg College (#15) |
| Indiana | 1 | Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis (#12) |
| Iowa | 1 | Hawkeye Community College (#21) |
| Kansas | 1 | Barton County Community College (#14) |
| Maine | 1 | Beal University (#18) |
| Missouri | 1 | Franklin Technology Center Adult Education (#22) |
| New Jersey | 1 | Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah (#16) |
| New Mexico | 1 | Western New Mexico University (#20) |
| West Virginia | 1 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (#24) |
How to Choose Among Hybrid Welding Programs
Expect the Welding to Be in Person
You can study safety, blueprint reading and welding theory online, but welding itself is learned in a booth with an instructor. Every program here keeps its welding labs on campus.
Find Out How Often You Need to Be on Campus
Hybrid schedules range from a few lab days a week to evening labs. Pick the one you can reach reliably.
Watch Out for Fully Online Offers
A course that promises welding certification with no lab time can't prepare you for an employer's weld test. Use online study for theory, then weld at a school.
Use the Online Part to Go Faster
Finishing theory and general education online can shorten a program or let you keep working while you train.
Online Welding Classes: Hybrid Welding Programs: FAQ
What Is the Best Hybrid Welding Program?
Merced College in Merced, CA ranks first on the method on this page, followed by Texarkana College and Texas State Technical College. The best fit depends on the campus you can reach and the credential you want.
How Much Do Hybrid Welding Programs Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the 17 schools on this page with federal figures run from $1,200 to $18,375 a year, before books, tools and protective gear. Each figure is the school's lowest resident rate.
How Many Hybrid Welding Programs Are There?
24 schools on this page meet the rule for this list, each checked against the school's own program page. Texas has the most (6), followed by Michigan (2).
Which Welding Programs Are Hybrid?
Merced College (Merced, CA), Texarkana College (Texarkana, TX) and Texas State Technical College (Abilene, TX) are among the 24 schools on this page whose program pages publish online or hybrid coursework. Each school's schedule is listed below.
Can You Get a Welding Certification Online?
No. A welding certification is a hands-on weld test taken at a test facility, such as an AWS Accredited Test Facility. You can study the theory online, but you have to weld in person to pass.
Latest Posts From the Blog
All posts
National · Training
Welding Apprenticeship Programs: How They Work and How to Get Accepted
How welding apprenticeship programs work in 2026: which union trades train welders, how long they take, what you need to apply and when school comes first.
National · Certificates and Degrees
How Long Does Welding School Take?
Welding school takes anywhere from a few weeks to two years. See program lengths for short certificates, diplomas and associate degrees, school by school.
National · Certificates and Degrees
Welding Certificate vs Associate Degree: Which Should You Get?
A welding certificate gets you working sooner. An associate degree opens inspection, supervision and teaching. Compare lengths, schools and career pay.
More Welding School Rankings and Guides
Sources
Reviewed November 3, 2026.
- NCES College Navigator: tuition and fees, welding awards and graduation rates, 2024–25
- Each school's official welding program page, linked from its profile
- American Welding Society, Certified Welder program