Cedar Rapids, IowaPublic, 2-Year

Kirkwood Community College Welding Program

An associate degree and a diploma, $6,176 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Kirkwood Community College Offer for Welding Students?

Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa offers an associate degree and a diploma in welding through its Advanced Welding Technologies program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $6,176 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 52 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.

Welding Degree and Certificates at Kirkwood Community College

AwardTypeLength
Advanced Welding Technologies, A.A.S.Associate73 credit hours
Entry-Level Welder DiplomaDiploma38 credit hours

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

Kirkwood Community College Welding Tuition: $6,176 a Year

Tuition and fees
$6,176
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$8,220
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,000
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
29
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
23
2024–25
Graduation rate
43%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
12,763
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.

Plate, Pipe and Process Training at Kirkwood Community College

Two-year AAS aiming at AWS SENSE 1 and SENSE 2 credentials, with 6G pipe and open-root certifications and virtual reality welding in training.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Pipe welding
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingcutting processes
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading
  • Inspection and testing

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Kirkwood Community College

Schedule. Program entry semester: Fall (2026-27).

Testing. Students can earn certifications to American Welding Society codes in shielded metal arc, gas metal arc and gas tungsten arc welding.

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

Visit kirkwood.edu

What Welders Earn Around Cedar Rapids

Welders in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn a median $56,750 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 71 Miles of Cedar Rapids

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

Kirkwood Community College Welding FAQ

Does Kirkwood Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Kirkwood Community College offers an associate degree and a diploma in welding. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Kirkwood Community College?

Kirkwood Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $6,176 for a full-time year (in-state) and $8,220 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,000. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at Kirkwood Community College?

Advanced Welding Technologies, A.A.S.: 73 credit hours. Entry-Level Welder Diploma: 38 credit hours.

Does Kirkwood Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Program entry semester: Fall (2026-27).

Can You Get Welding Certified at Kirkwood Community College?

Students can earn certifications to American Welding Society codes in shielded metal arc, gas metal arc and gas tungsten arc welding.

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. kirkwood.edu: Advanced Welding Technologies program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 153737
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025