2027 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Michigan
[Welding Technology/Welder](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/welding-technology-welder/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for welding technology/welder students.
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2027 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in welding technology/welder, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools
Macomb Community College earned the #1 spot for value among welding technology/welder schools in Michigan. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,862. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $17,616. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned it the #3 place for welding technology/welder. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delta College earned it the #4 place for welding technology/welder. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $34,112. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Lansing Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Oakland Community College earned the #6 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $15,865. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
Northwestern Michigan College placed #7 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,860, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. Students borrow a median of $17,694 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Northwestern Michigan College earn a median of $49,210 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Michigan College came in at #8 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the rural area of Dowagiac, Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,417, with out-of-state students paying around $8,394. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of $43,153 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirtland Community College came in at #9 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the rural area of Grayling, Kirtland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,190, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $17,333. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Kirtland Community College earn a median of $50,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,333 median debt.
Jackson Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid Michigan Community College placed #11 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the rural area of Harrison, Mid Michigan Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,132 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,864. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $18,878. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Mid Michigan Community College earn a median of $43,078 early in their careers. Set against $18,878 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Rapids Community College earned the #12 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $4,179, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $4,540 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $42,066 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ferris State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $19,633. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $62,832 early in their careers. Set against $19,633 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Bay De Noc Community College earned the #14 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Escanaba, Bay De Noc Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214, compared with $11,453 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $17,625. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Bay De Noc Community College generally make around $39,075. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Michigan University placed #15 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $22,608 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $40,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Miat College Of Technology came in at #16 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Miat College Of Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,165. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $11,790. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Miat College Of Technology earn a median of $33,636 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,790 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
