What Does Catawba Valley Community College Offer for Welding Students?
Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, North Carolina offers an associate degree, 2 diplomas and 2 certificates in welding through its Welding Technology program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $2,427 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 116 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.
Welding Degree and Certificates at Catawba Valley Community College
| Award | Type | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Welding Technology, A.A.S. (A50420) | Associate | |
| Welding Technology Diploma (D50420) | Diploma | |
| Welding Technology Certificate (C50420) | Certificate | |
| Welding Technology H.S. Diploma Pathway (D50420P) | Diploma | |
| Welding Technology Certificate Pathway (C50420P) | Certificate | 18 credit hours (2023-2024 catalog) |
As listed on Catawba Valley Community College's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.
Catawba Valley Community College Welding Tuition: $2,427 a Year
- Tuition and fees
- $2,427 in-state, 2024–25
- Out of state
- $7,803 2024–25
- Books and supplies
- $1,870 2024–25 estimate
- Welding certificates awarded
- 98 2024–25
- Welding associate degrees
- 18 2024–25
- Graduation rate
- 35% school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
- Students enrolled
- 4,904 school-wide, Fall 2024
Tuition and fees are for a full-time year. Awards count welding credentials conferred. Graduation rate and enrollment cover the whole school. Source: NCES College Navigator.
From Stick Welding to Robotics: What Catawba Valley Community College Teaches
Offers high-school pathway versions of both the diploma and certificate alongside the AAS, and its catalog includes robotic GMAW and automated welding/cutting courses.
- Stick (SMAW)
- MIG (GMAW)robotic GMAW
- TIG (GTAW)
- Flux-cored (FCAW)
- Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingcutting processes, automated welding/cutting
- Fabrication and blueprint reading
- Robotic and automated weldingrobotic GMAW, automated welding/cutting
- Inspection and testingwelding inspection, destructive and non-destructive testing
Where you'll Train: Catawba Valley Community College
- Catawba Valley Community College2550 US Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602
Check start dates, admission steps and the current course list on Catawba Valley Community College's own site.
Visit cvcc.eduWhat Welders Earn Around Hickory
Welders in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median $46,080 a year. Across North Carolina, the median welder wage is $50,590 a year, from $38,540 at the 10th percentile to $71,240 at the 90th, with 11,750 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
5 More Welding Schools Within 27 Miles of Hickory
- Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute15 mi · $2,526/yr
- Western Piedmont Community College22 mi · $2,650/yr
- Mitchell Community College23 mi · $2,641/yr
- NASCAR Technical Institute25 mi
- Gaston College27 mi · $3,186/yr
Straight-line distance between campuses. All welding schools in North Carolina
Catawba Valley Community College Welding FAQ
Does Catawba Valley Community College Have a Welding Program?
Yes. Catawba Valley Community College offers an associate degree, 2 diplomas and 2 certificates in welding at Catawba Valley Community College. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), oxy-fuel and plasma cutting.
How Much Does Welding School Cost at Catawba Valley Community College?
Catawba Valley Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $2,427 for a full-time year (in-state) and $7,803 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,870. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.
How Long Is the Welding Program at Catawba Valley Community College?
Welding Technology Certificate Pathway (C50420P): 18 credit hours (2023-2024 catalog).
How Much Do Welders Make in North Carolina?
The median welder wage in North Carolina is $50,590 a year, and the middle half earn between $45,400 and $60,870 (BLS, May 2025).
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