Coos Bay, OregonPublic, 2-Year

Southwestern Oregon Community College Welding Program

An associate degree and 4 certificates, $7,192 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Southwestern Oregon Community College Offer for Welding Students?

Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Oregon offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding through its Welding & Fabrication program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $7,192 for a full-time year (all students). The school awarded 44 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for earning a welding degree, not just a certificate.

Welding Degree and Certificates at Southwestern Oregon Community College

AwardTypeLength
Welding, Associate of Applied Science (AAS)Associate93 credit hours
Welding, Certificate of CompletionCertificate48 credit hours
Pipe Fitting, Career Pathway Certificate of CompletionCertificate12 credit hours
Welding Assistant, Career Pathway Certificate of CompletionCertificate18 credit hours
Welding Technician, Career Pathway Certificate of CompletionCertificate24 credit hours

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

Southwestern Oregon Community College Welding Tuition: $7,192 a Year

Tuition and fees
$7,192
all students, 2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,500
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
39
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
5
2024–25
Graduation rate
40%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
1,551
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 Southwestern Oregon Community College

SWOCC's AAS and certificate are AWS entry-level welding certified programs, so passing the AWS portion of each course earns a national AWS entry-level welder certificate, with a fall cohort model.

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

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Southwestern Oregon Community College

Schedule. Cohort starts every Fall Term.

Testing. Successfully completing the AWS portion of each welding course also qualifies the student for a Certificate of Completion from the AWS as an entry-level welder.

Where you'll Train: Coos Bay Campus

  • Coos Bay campus

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

Visit socc.edu

What Welders Earn in Oregon

Across Oregon, the median welder wage is $59,450 a year, from $46,070 at the 10th percentile to $79,230 at the 90th, with 5,240 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

4 More Welding Schools Within 100 Miles of Coos Bay

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

Southwestern Oregon Community College Welding FAQ

Does Southwestern Oregon Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Southwestern Oregon Community College offers an associate degree and 4 certificates in welding at Coos Bay campus. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Southwestern Oregon Community College?

Southwestern Oregon Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $7,192 for a full-time year (all students), 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 Southwestern Oregon Community College?

Welding, Associate of Applied Science (AAS): 93 credit hours. Welding, Certificate of Completion: 48 credit hours. Pipe Fitting, Career Pathway Certificate of Completion: 12 credit hours.

Does Southwestern Oregon Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Cohort starts every Fall Term.

Can You Get Welding Certified at Southwestern Oregon Community College?

Successfully completing the AWS portion of each welding course also qualifies the student for a Certificate of Completion from the AWS as an entry-level welder.

How Much Do Welders Make in Oregon?

The median welder wage in Oregon is $59,450 a year, and the middle half earn between $49,690 and $66,570 (BLS, May 2025).

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Sources

  1. socc.edu: Welding & Fabrication program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 210155
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025