What Are the Best Welding Schools in Wisconsin?
- Fox Valley Technical College (Appleton) offers Welding Technology, Industrial - Associate Degree (10-621-1) and Welding/Metal Fab Technician - Technical Diploma (32-621-1).
- Moraine Park Technical College (Fond du Lac) offers Welding Technical Diploma and Metal Fabrication Technical Diploma.
- Northwood Technical College (Ashland) offers Welding Technical Diploma (31-442-1) and Welding/Maintenance and Fabrication Technical Diploma (embedded).
- Resident tuition and fees run from $4,267 to $5,184 a year (2024–25).
- Welding classes in Wisconsin: 3 of the verified welding programs in Wisconsin list evening or weekend sections.
- Wisconsin welders earn a median $58,410 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Fox Valley Technical College Leads the Wisconsin Welding School Rankings
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton | $5,040 | 180 certificates, 23 associate | 65% |
| 2 | Moraine Park Technical CollegeFond du Lac | $4,819 | 103 certificates | 58% |
| 3 | Northwood Technical CollegeAshland | $4,926 | 496 certificates | 56% |
| 4 | Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire | $4,844 | 135 certificates | 50% |
| 5 | Gateway Technical CollegeElkhorn | $4,956 | 176 certificates | 51% |
| 6 | Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau | $4,889 | 98 certificates, 2 associate | 45% |
| 7 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay | $4,960 | 69 certificates | 51% |
| 8 | Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee | $4,872 | 64 certificates | 44% |
| 9 | Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse | $4,820 | 37 certificates | 34% |
| 10 | Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville | $4,267 | 25 certificates | 34% |
| 11 | Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison | $4,977 | 75 certificates | 29% |
| 12 | Mid-State Technical CollegeWisconsin Rapids | $5,002 | 36 certificates | 52% |
| 13 | Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMequon | $5,184 | 40 certificates, 10 associate | 25% |
Welding programs in Wisconsin, ranked by the method below. Tuition is the 2024–25 full-time resident rate and graduation rate is college-wide (NCES College Navigator). Welding awards are credentials conferred in welding (IPEDS). Blank cells mean no federal figure for that college.
How We Ranked Wisconsin Welding Schools
Each Wisconsin college with a verified, current welding program page gets a percentile score among its in-state peers: program size (35%, welding awards conferred), cost (25%, lowest resident tuition and fees for 2024–25), completion (25%, college-wide graduation rate) and credential ladder (15%, both certificates and associate degrees awarded). Federal data can't measure instructors or equipment, so visit the shop before you enroll.
Best Welding Schools in Wisconsin by Goal: Top Ranked, Lowest Tuition, Most Welding Awards, Working Adults and Highest Completion
Welding Schools in Wisconsin, College by College
1Fox Valley Technical College
Offers an associate degree, 3 diplomas and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,040 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 203 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Cutting · Fabrication · Robotic · Inspection
2Moraine Park Technical College
Offers 2 diplomas and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,819 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 103 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
3Northwood Technical College
Offers 6 diplomas in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,926 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 496 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
4Chippewa Valley Technical College
Offers 2 diplomas in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,844 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 135 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
5Gateway Technical College
Offers 2 diplomas in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,956 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 176 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
6Northcentral Technical College
Offers an associate degree, 4 diplomas and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,889 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 100 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
7Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Offers a diploma and 5 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,960 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 69 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
8Waukesha County Technical College
Offers an associate degree, 2 diplomas and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,872 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 64 conferred 2024–25
Teaches MIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication · Robotic
9Western Technical College
Offers 2 diplomas in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,820 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 37 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
10Blackhawk Technical College
Offers an associate degree and 2 diplomas in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,267 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 25 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
11Madison Area Technical College
Offers 2 diplomas and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,977 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 75 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
12Mid-State Technical College
Offers 2 diplomas and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,002 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 36 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication · Robotic
13Milwaukee Area Technical College
Offers an associate degree, a diploma and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,184 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 50 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Cutting · Fabrication
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
Welding Classes in Wisconsin: 3 Programs Teach Nights or Weekends
Schedules as each college publishes them. Ask about evening sections and start dates before you apply.
- Northwood Technical College1 year; New Richmond and Superior campuses offer both daytime and evening options.
- Fox Valley Technical CollegePart Time or Full Time
- Gateway Technical CollegeClasses are offered day and night on the Elkhorn and Racine campuses; start dates Fall, Spring, Summer.
- Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeOne year, face-to-face; start months August and January (Welding Fabrication: two years, August start).
- Madison Area Technical CollegeFull-time or part-time based on availability; 1 year; 100% in person; fall capacity 36 at Truax and 13 at Portage.
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeDay (6:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) and Evening (5:30-10:30 p.m.) formats; full-time; two semesters of 8-week blocks.
- Moraine Park Technical College1 year
- Waukesha County Technical College1 year, on campus; start August / January (associate: 2 years).
- Mid-State Technical CollegeOne year, in person; start dates Fall, Spring.
- Western Technical CollegeFall start; in-person; 2 terms (Welding Technician: one term).
- Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeIn-person; start dates August/January.
More Welding Programs in Wisconsin: Colleges That Award Welding Credentials
Welding credentials each college conferred in 2022–23 (IPEDS). Confirm current program details with each college.
- Lakeshore Technical College, Cleveland38
- Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Fennimore37
- Nicolet Area Technical College, Rhinelander15
- College of Menominee Nation, Keshena3
What Welding School Costs in Wisconsin: $4,267 to $5,184 a Year
Among the 13 Wisconsin welding schools with federal figures, 2024–25 tuition and fees for a full-time year range from $4,267 at Blackhawk Technical College to $5,184 at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Community colleges publish their in-district rate; students from outside the district or state pay more.
| School | City | Tuition and fees, 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | $4,267 (in-state) |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | $4,819 (in-state) |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | $4,820 (in-state) |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | $4,844 (in-state) |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | $4,872 (in-state) |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | $4,889 (in-state) |
The six lowest rates. Source: NCES College Navigator.
Welder Salary in Wisconsin: The Minneapolis Area Pays the Most
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington | $61,880 | $76,650 | 4,600 |
| Fond du Lac | $60,930 | $70,690 | 230 |
| Oshkosh–Neenah | $60,720 | $67,210 | 540 |
| Janesville–Beloit | $60,000 | $70,720 | 520 |
| Madison | $59,530 | $71,270 | 1,010 |
| Sheboygan | $59,460 | $61,630 | 740 |
| Milwaukee–Waukesha | $59,390 | $72,370 | 3,400 |
| Racine–Mount Pleasant | $59,200 | $68,130 | 370 |
| Appleton | $58,920 | $82,680 | 970 |
| Green Bay | $58,850 | $69,880 | 840 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Wisconsin (15,320 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Welding Schools by City in Wisconsin
Welding Schools in Wisconsin: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Wisconsin Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Wisconsin colleges on this page run from $4,267 to $5,184 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Northwood Technical College lists Welding Technical Diploma (31-442-1) (32 credit hours) and Welding/Maintenance and Fabrication Technical Diploma (embedded) (14 credit hours); Fox Valley Technical College lists Welding Technology, Industrial - Associate Degree (10-621-1) (63 credit hours) and Welding/Metal Fab Technician - Technical Diploma (32-621-1) (54 credit hours); Gateway Technical College lists Welding Technical Diploma (31-442-1) (43 credit hours) and Welding/Maintenance & Fabrication Technical Diploma (30-442-2) (16 credit hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Wisconsin?
BLS estimates a median of $58,410 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Wisconsin (May 2025), across 15,320 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,060 and the top 10% earn more than $70,720.
What Is the Best Welding School in Wisconsin?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Fox Valley Technical College ranks first among Wisconsin colleges with verified welding programs, followed by Moraine Park Technical College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Are There Evening Welding Classes in Wisconsin?
Yes. 3 welding schools in Wisconsin publish evening or weekend sections, including Northwood Technical College, Gateway Technical College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
How Many Welding Schools Are in Wisconsin?
13 schools have a current welding program in Wisconsin, each checked against the school's own program page, and 5 offer an associate degree.
What Is the Cheapest Welding School in Wisconsin?
Blackhawk Technical College had the lowest 2024–25 tuition and fees among Wisconsin welding schools with federal figures: $4,267 for a full-time year (in-state). Moraine Park Technical College ($4,819) and Western Technical College ($4,820) follow.
Which Wisconsin Welding Schools Offer an Associate Degree?
Blackhawk Technical College, Fox Valley Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical College and 2 more offer a welding associate degree, usually alongside shorter certificates.
Where Can You Test for AWS Certification in Wisconsin?
Fox Valley Technical College, Madison Area Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical College and 1 other schools describe American Welding Society (AWS) testing or certification on their program pages. Each profile shows what the school offers.
Do I Need a Certification to Work as a Welder?
Many employers test welders on their own procedure before hiring. The American Welding Society's Certified Welder program is a performance test with no education or experience prerequisites, taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility.
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More on Welding in Wisconsin
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 13 Wisconsin colleges above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022–23 and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- American Welding Society, Certified Welder program.