Are Welding Schools in Kennewick Worth the Cost?
- Median welder pay in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area: $64,720, against $53,750 nationally (BLS, May 2025).
- Columbia Basin College in Pasco, 5 miles away, offers Welding Technology AAS and Welding Technology One-Year Certificate.
- Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, OR, 40 miles away, offers Certificate of Completion in Welding.
- Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, 44 miles away, offers Welding Technology, AAS and Welding certificate (one year).
- Welding classes in Kennewick: 1 of these welding schools publish their class schedules below.
Welder Pay Around Kennewick
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area (260 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Compare Welding Programs Near Kennewick
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Basin CollegePasco | 5 miles | $6,555 | 11 associate | 33% |
| Blue Mountain Community CollegePendleton, OR | 40 miles | $7,076 | 3 certificates | 30% |
| Walla Walla Community CollegeWalla Walla | 44 miles | $5,279 | 35 certificates, 32 associate | 38% |
Welding programs near Kennewick, sorted by straight-line distance. Tuition: 2024–25 full-time resident rate. Awards: welding credentials conferred (IPEDS, via NCES College Navigator). Graduation rate is college-wide. Blank cells have no federal figure.
Best Welding Schools in Kennewick for What You Need
Welding Schools in Kennewick: Walla Walla Community College and 2 Others
Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla, Washington
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,279 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 67 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Columbia Basin College, Pasco, Washington
Offers an associate degree and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $6,555 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 11 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, Oregon
Offers a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $7,076 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 3 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · TIG · Pipe
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026. Distances are straight-line from Kennewick.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Kennewick?
Blue Mountain Community College offers certificates only; Columbia Basin College and Walla Walla Community College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- Columbia Basin CollegeWelding Technology AAS: min. 6 quarters; Welding Technology One-Year Certificate: 3-4 quarters; Welding Technology Short-Term Certificate: 2 quarters
- Blue Mountain Community CollegeCertificate of Completion in Welding: 12 credit hours
Welding Classes in Kennewick: When Programs Meet
- Columbia Basin CollegeFull-time, in-person cohort model with Fall start (morning, Mon-Fri 6:30 am-2 pm) and Winter start (afternoon, Mon-Fri 11 am-4 pm) cohorts.
Questions About Welding Schools in Kennewick
How Much Do Welding Schools in Kennewick Cost?
Walla Walla Community College charges the least, $5,279 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Blue Mountain Community College charges $7,076. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Walla Walla Community College budgets $528 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Kennewick?
Columbia Basin College lists Welding Technology AAS (min. 6 quarters) and Welding Technology One-Year Certificate (3-4 quarters) and Blue Mountain Community College lists Certificate of Completion in Welding (12 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Kennewick?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area earn a median $64,720 a year (BLS, May 2025), 20% above the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $95,400.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Kennewick?
Walla Walla Community College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 67 welding awards in 2024-2025. Columbia Basin College ranks second.
Welding Programs Near Kennewick but Farther Out
- Big Bend Community College, Moses Lake69 miles
- Perry Technical Institute, Yakima70 miles
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 3 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.