Mason City, IowaPublic, 2-Year

North Iowa Area Community College Welding Program

A diploma and 2 certificates, $6,653 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does North Iowa Area Community College Offer for Welding Students?

North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $6,653 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 54 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for learning robotic and automated welding.

From Stick Welding to Robotics: What North Iowa Area Community College Teaches

Two-semester diploma that adds welding automation and 3-D modeling to SENSE1 process courses, with an 8-credit starter certificate at regional career centers.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxyfuel cutting
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading
  • Robotic and automated weldingwelding automation

North Iowa Area Community College Welding Tuition: $6,653 a Year

Tuition and fees
$6,653
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$9,551
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,830
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
54
2024–25
Graduation rate
61%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
2,662
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 North Iowa Area Community College

AwardTypeLength
Welding DiplomaDiploma36 semester hours
Welding CertificateCertificate19 semester hours
Fundamentals of Welding CertificateCertificate8 semester hours

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

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at North Iowa Area Community College

Schedule. Diploma is two semesters (Fall and Spring).

Testing. The program is recognized as an Institutional Member of the American Welding Society.

4 Campuses Teach Welding at North Iowa Area Community College

  • Main Campus
  • NIACC Career Center - Franklin County
  • John V Hanson Career Center
  • NIACC Career Center - Charles City

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

Visit niacc.edu

What Welders Earn in Iowa

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 84 Miles of Mason City

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

North Iowa Area Community College Welding FAQ

Does North Iowa Area Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. North Iowa Area Community College offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding at Main Campus, NIACC Career Center - Franklin County, John V Hanson Career Center. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), oxy-fuel and plasma cutting.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at North Iowa Area Community College?

North Iowa Area Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $6,653 for a full-time year (in-state) and $9,551 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,830. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at North Iowa Area Community College?

Welding Diploma: 36 semester hours. Welding Certificate: 19 semester hours. Fundamentals of Welding Certificate: 8 semester hours.

Does North Iowa Area Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Diploma is two semesters (Fall and Spring).

Can You Get Welding Certified at North Iowa Area Community College?

The program is recognized as an Institutional Member of the American Welding Society.

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).

Latest Posts From the Blog

All posts

More on Welding in Iowa

Sources

  1. niacc.edu: Welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 154059
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025