Cedar Bluff, VirginiaPublic, 2-Year

Southwest Virginia Community College Welding Program

A diploma and 4 certificates, $5,075 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Southwest Virginia Community College Offer for Welding Students?

Southwest Virginia Community College in Cedar Bluff, Virginia offers a diploma and 4 certificates in welding. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $5,075 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 45 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for training for pipe welding work.

From Stick Welding to Robotics: What Southwest Virginia Community College Teaches

SWCC is an AWS Accredited Test Facility offering five stackable welding awards, from a one-semester MIG-focused CSC to a 70-credit diploma with aluminum, pipe, robotic welding and quality-control inspection aimed at shop-foreman roles.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)aluminum GMAW/GTAW
  • TIG (GTAW)aluminum GMAW/GTAW
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Pipe welding
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxyfuel welding and cutting
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading
  • Robotic and automated weldingrobotic welding
  • Inspection and testing

Southwest Virginia Community College Welding Tuition: $5,075 a Year

Tuition and fees
$5,075
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$11,513
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,500
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
45
2024–25
Graduation rate
46%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
2,364
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.

4 Welding Certificates at Southwest Virginia Community College

AwardTypeLength
Welding (Diploma)Diploma70 minimum credits
Welding (CSC)Certificate29 minimum credits
Advanced Welding and Fabrication (CSC)Certificate28 minimum credits
Welding Fundamentals (CSC)Certificate17 minimum credits
Semi-Automated Welding (CSC)Certificate12 minimum credits

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

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Southwest Virginia Community College

Schedule. Diploma: 2 years - 4 semesters; Welding CSC and Advanced Welding and Fabrication CSC: one year - two semesters; Welding Fundamentals and Semi-Automated Welding CSCs: one semester.

Testing. SWCC is an AWS Accredited Test Facility with low-cost testing for a range of processes, student discounts and a free skills evaluation.

Where you'll Train: SWCC Campus (Davis Hall)

  • SWCC campus (Davis Hall)

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

Visit sw.edu

What Welders Earn in Virginia

Across Virginia, the median welder wage is $59,180 a year, from $42,520 at the 10th percentile to $79,630 at the 90th, with 10,100 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 60 Miles of Cedar Bluff

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

Southwest Virginia Community College Welding FAQ

Does Southwest Virginia Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Southwest Virginia Community College offers a diploma and 4 certificates in welding at SWCC campus (Davis Hall). Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Southwest Virginia Community College?

Southwest Virginia Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $5,075 for a full-time year (in-state) and $11,513 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,500. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at Southwest Virginia Community College?

Welding (Diploma): 70 minimum credits. Welding (CSC): 29 minimum credits. Advanced Welding and Fabrication (CSC): 28 minimum credits.

Does Southwest Virginia Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Diploma: 2 years - 4 semesters; Welding CSC and Advanced Welding and Fabrication CSC: one year - two semesters; Welding Fundamentals and Semi-Automated Welding CSCs: one semester.

Can You Get Welding Certified at Southwest Virginia Community College?

SWCC is an AWS Accredited Test Facility with low-cost testing for a range of processes, student discounts and a free skills evaluation.

How Much Do Welders Make in Virginia?

The median welder wage in Virginia is $59,180 a year, and the middle half earn between $49,020 and $65,400 (BLS, May 2025).

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How Much Do Welders Make in Virginia?

Virginia welders earned a $59,180 median in May 2025, $28.45 an hour. See pay in Hampton Roads, Richmond, Roanoke and more, plus related welding careers.

More on Welding in Virginia

Sources

  1. sw.edu: Welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 233648
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025