Riverside, CaliforniaPublic, 2-Year

Riverside City College Welding Program

An associate degree and 4 certificates, $1,428 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Riverside City College Offer for Welding Students?

Riverside City College in Riverside, California offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding through its Welding Technology program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $1,428 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 29 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.

Welding Degree and Certificates at Riverside City College

AwardTypeLength
Welding Technology (AS / CE)Associate28 major units
Pipe Welding (CE)Certificate15 major units
Stick Welding (SMAW) (CE)Certificate9 major units
TIG Welding (GTAW) (CE)Certificate6 major units
Wire Welding (FCAW, GMAW) (CE)Certificate9 major units

As listed on Riverside City College's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.

Riverside City College Welding Tuition: $1,428 a Year

Tuition and fees
$1,428
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$12,498
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,454
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
25
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
4
2024–25
Graduation rate
37%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
21,730
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 Riverside City College

RCC's required sequence includes American Welding Society/Los Angeles City welding coursework and SMAW/GMAW pipe fundamentals, aimed at ironworker, steelworker, pile driver and glazing trades.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Pipe welding
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxyacetylene cutting
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Riverside City College

Schedule. This Program Pathway will allow a full-time student to complete this program in 12-18 months.

Testing. Obtain skills needed to pass AWS skills test to become a certified welder.

Where you'll Train: Riverside City College

  • Riverside City College4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506

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

Visit rcc.edu

What Welders Earn Around Riverside

Welders in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $52,050 a year. Across California, the median welder wage is $58,060 a year, from $44,520 at the 10th percentile to $81,940 at the 90th, with 26,060 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 27 Miles of Riverside

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

Riverside City College Welding FAQ

Does Riverside City College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Riverside City College offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding at Riverside City College. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Riverside City College?

Riverside City College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $1,428 for a full-time year (in-state) and $12,498 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,454. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at Riverside City College?

Welding Technology (AS / CE): 28 major units. Pipe Welding (CE): 15 major units. Stick Welding (SMAW) (CE): 9 major units.

Does Riverside City College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

This Program Pathway will allow a full-time student to complete this program in 12-18 months.

Can You Get Welding Certified at Riverside City College?

Obtain skills needed to pass AWS skills test to become a certified welder.

How Much Do Welders Make in California?

The median welder wage in California is $58,060 a year, and the middle half earn between $48,480 and $70,400 (BLS, May 2025).

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California · Salary

How Much Do Welders Make in California?

California welders earned a median $58,060 in May 2025. See pay in all 25 metro areas, from $64,320 in San Francisco to $46,850 in Visalia.

More on Welding in California

Sources

  1. rcc.edu: Welding Technology program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 121901
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025