Marion, North CarolinaPublic, 2-Year

McDowell Technical Community College Welding Program

An associate degree, a diploma and 2 certificates, $2,032 a year in tuition and fees, with training in oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, fabrication and blueprint reading, inspection and testing.

What Does McDowell Technical Community College Offer for Welding Students?

McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, North Carolina offers an associate degree, a diploma and 2 certificates in welding through its Welding Technology program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $2,032 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 25 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.

Welding Degree and Certificates at McDowell Technical Community College

AwardTypeLength
Welding Technology Associate Degree (A50420)Associate
Welding Technology Diploma (D50420)Diploma
Welding Technology Certificate - Level I (C50420A)Certificate
Welding Technology Certificate - Level II (C50420B)Certificate

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

McDowell Technical Community College Welding Tuition: $2,032 a Year

Tuition and fees
$2,032
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$6,640
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,750
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
24
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
1
2024–25
Graduation rate
48%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
1,249
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.

What you'll Learn in McDowell Technical Community College's Welding Program

A small Marion program offering four stacked awards, from two short certificates up to an associate degree, with welding inspection and testing named as a core skill area.

  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cutting
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading
  • Inspection and testingdestructive and non-destructive testing

Where you'll Train: Main Campus

  • Main campus54 College Drive, Marion, NC 28752

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

Visit mcdowelltech.edu

What Welders Earn in North Carolina

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 34 Miles of Marion

Straight-line distance between campuses. All welding schools in North Carolina

McDowell Technical Community College Welding FAQ

Does McDowell Technical Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. McDowell Technical Community College offers an associate degree, a diploma and 2 certificates in welding at Main campus. Training covers oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, fabrication and blueprint reading, inspection and testing.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at McDowell Technical Community College?

McDowell Technical Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $2,032 for a full-time year (in-state) and $6,640 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,750. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

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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How Much Do Welders Make in North Carolina?

North Carolina welders earned a median $50,590 in May 2025. Compare pay in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greenville and Hickory, and the schools near each market.

More on Welding in North Carolina

Sources

  1. mcdowelltech.edu: Welding Technology program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 198923
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025