Waterloo, IowaPublic, 2-Year

Hawkeye Community College Welding Program

3 diplomas and 2 certificates, $6,525 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Hawkeye Community College Offer for Welding Students?

Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa offers 3 diplomas and 2 certificates in welding. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $6,525 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 47 welding credentials in 2024–25. It runs evening classes. Best for working adults who need evening classes.

Evening Welding Classes at Hawkeye Community College

Schedule. Daytime hybrid: coursework online, labs in person; competency-based and self-paced. Advanced diploma and certificate start Fall or Spring; Production Welding Workplace Certificate meets evenings face-to-face (2 months).

Hawkeye Community College Welding Tuition: $6,525 a Year

Tuition and fees
$6,525
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$6,612
2024–25
Books and supplies
$795
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
47
2024–25
Graduation rate
43%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
5,120
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.

2 Welding Certificates at Hawkeye Community College

AwardTypeLength
Advanced Manufacturing Welding DiplomaDiploma44 credit hours
Intermediate Manufacturing Welding Diploma (GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, and Robotics)Diploma36 credit hours
Intermediate Manufacturing Welding Diploma (GTAW, Carbon Steel, Aluminum and Stainless Steel)Diploma28 credit hours
Welding CertificateCertificate20 credit hours
Production Welding Workplace CertificateCertificate

As listed on Hawkeye Community College's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.

From Stick Welding to Robotics: What Hawkeye Community College Teaches

Competency-based hybrid format (online theory, in-person labs) with robotic/cobot welding, and PPE and tools supplied through program fees.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingthermal cutting
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading
  • Robotic and automated weldingrobotic welding

Where you'll Train: Main Campus

  • Main Campus1501 East Orange Road

Check start dates, admission steps and the current course list on Hawkeye Community College's own site.

Visit hawkeyecollege.edu

What Welders Earn Around Waterloo

Welders in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area earn a median $51,080 a year. Across Iowa, the median welder wage is $55,090 a year, from $45,590 at the 10th percentile to $65,250 at the 90th, with 9,270 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 92 Miles of Waterloo

Straight-line distance between campuses. All welding schools in Iowa

Hawkeye Community College Welding FAQ

Does Hawkeye Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Hawkeye Community College offers 3 diplomas and 2 certificates in welding at Main Campus. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), oxy-fuel and plasma cutting.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Hawkeye Community College?

Hawkeye Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $6,525 for a full-time year (in-state) and $6,612 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $795. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at Hawkeye Community College?

Advanced Manufacturing Welding Diploma: 44 credit hours. Intermediate Manufacturing Welding Diploma (GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, and Robotics): 36 credit hours. Intermediate Manufacturing Welding Diploma (GTAW, Carbon Steel, Aluminum and Stainless Steel): 28 credit hours.

Does Hawkeye Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Daytime hybrid: coursework online, labs in person; competency-based and self-paced. Advanced diploma and certificate start Fall or Spring; Production Welding Workplace Certificate meets evenings face-to-face (2 months).

How Much Do Welders Make in Iowa?

The median welder wage in Iowa is $55,090 a year, and the middle half earn between $48,250 and $60,200 (BLS, May 2025).

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Sources

  1. hawkeyecollege.edu: Welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 153445
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025