Belleville, IllinoisPublic, 2-Year

Southwestern Illinois College Welding Program

An associate degree and 3 certificates, $3,960 a year in tuition and fees, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does SWIC Offer for Welding Students?

Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding through its Welding Technology (0062) program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $3,960 for a full-time year (in-district). The school awarded 155 welding credentials in 2024–25. It runs evening classes. Best for working adults who need evening classes.

Evening Welding Classes at SWIC

Schedule. Day and evening classes; day students typically attend four or five days a week, night students two or three nights a week. Lab open 5-6 days a week.

Evening Welding at Four SWIC Campuses

SWIC runs day and evening welding classes at Belleville, Granite City, East St. Louis, and Red Bud, so you can train around a job.

SWIC Welding Tuition: $3,960 a Year

Tuition and fees
$3,960
in-district, 2024–25
Out of state
$6,720
2024–25
Books and supplies
$2,400
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
150
2024–25
Welding associate degrees
5
2024–25
Graduation rate
36%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
8,492
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.

Welding Degree and Certificates at SWIC

AwardTypeLength
Associate in Applied Science Degree in Welding Technology (0062)Associate65 credit hours
Basic Welding Certificate (062A)Certificate18 credit hours
Advanced Welding Skills Certificate (062B)Certificate16 credit hours
Advanced Welding Manufacturing Certificate (062D)Certificate

As listed on SWIC's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.

From Stick Welding to Robotics: What SWIC Teaches

Offered at four campuses with day and night tracks, and the AAS includes welding automation and a robotic welding and CNC cutting course.

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

4 Campuses Teach Welding at SWIC

  • Belleville Campus2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL 62001
  • Sam Wolf Granite City Campus4950 Maryville Rd., Granite City, IL 62040
  • Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus601 James R. Thompson Blvd. East St. Louis, IL 62201
  • Red Bud Campus500 West South 4th St., Red Bud, IL 62278

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

Visit swic.edu

What Welders Earn in Illinois

Across Illinois, the median welder wage is $51,320 a year, from $38,890 at the 10th percentile to $76,730 at the 90th, with 16,260 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 42 Miles of Belleville

Straight-line distance between campuses. All welding schools in Illinois · Welding schools in Belleville

SWIC Welding FAQ

Does SWIC Have a Welding Program?

Yes. SWIC offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding at Belleville Campus, Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at SWIC?

SWIC's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $3,960 for a full-time year (in-district) and $6,720 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $2,400. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at SWIC?

Associate in Applied Science Degree in Welding Technology (0062): 65 credit hours. Basic Welding Certificate (062A): 18 credit hours. Advanced Welding Skills Certificate (062B): 16 credit hours.

Does SWIC Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Day and evening classes; day students typically attend four or five days a week, night students two or three nights a week. Lab open 5-6 days a week.

How Much Do Welders Make in Illinois?

The median welder wage in Illinois is $51,320 a year, and the middle half earn between $46,500 and $61,520 (BLS, May 2025).

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Sources

  1. swic.edu: Welding Technology (0062) program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 143215
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025