2027 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in North Carolina
[Welding Technology/Welder](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/welding-technology-welder/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 55 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for welding technology/welder students.
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2027 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the welding technology/welder degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools
Johnston Community College earned the #1 spot for value among welding technology/welder schools in North Carolina. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,756, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,490. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $34,171. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,602, with out-of-state students paying around $8,746. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $7,131. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $39,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Wilkes Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Edgecombe Community College earned it the #4 place for welding technology/welder. Located in the rural area of Tarboro, Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, compared with $8,784 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $22,153 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Edgecombe Community College earn a median of $49,528 early in their careers. Set against $22,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in welding technology/welder will find it at Piedmont Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Roxboro, Piedmont Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,556, while out-of-state students pay about $8,700. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Piedmont Community College earn a median of $68,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Durham Technical Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
Rockingham Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wentworth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,966, compared with $6,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Rockingham Community College generally make around $50,048. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Pamlico Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Pamlico Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Grantsboro. Students from in state pay about $3,712 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,928. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,005 ten years after entry.
Wayne Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $33,116. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James Sprunt Community College landed the #10 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. James Sprunt Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kenansville. Students from in state pay about $2,592 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $11,278. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,264. Set against $11,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #11 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Albemarle came in at #12 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Elizabeth City, College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,242 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,652. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $10,240 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $50,506. That is a strong return on a $10,240 median debt.
Sampson Community College placed #13 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,877 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,789. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Sampson Community College generally make around $45,929. That is a strong return on a $12,596 median debt.
Wilson Community College placed #14 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Wilson, Wilson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,846 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Wilson Community College earn a median of $47,329 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,846 median debt.
Vance Granville Community College earned the #15 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,944, compared with $6,552 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $14,833. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Vance Granville Community College earn a median of $43,272 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Martin Community College came in at #16 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Williamston, Martin Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,523 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,667. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Martin Community College generally make around $42,820.
Craven Community College landed the #17 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the town of New Bern, Craven Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,022, with out-of-state students paying around $6,630. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $8,924. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Craven Community College earn a median of $30,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College landed the #18 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lenoir Community College earned the #19 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,578, with out-of-state students paying around $8,822. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,984 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lenoir Community College generally make around $38,736. That is a strong return on a $9,984 median debt.
Richmond Community College landed the #20 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,956, with out-of-state students paying around $6,564. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $8,407. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $31,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Surry Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the rural area of Dobson, Surry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,668, compared with $8,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,537. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $47,188. That is a strong return on a $9,537 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #22 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $16,909. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Sylva landed the #23 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,112, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Students borrow a median of $13,708 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $36,418. That is a strong return on a $13,708 median debt.
Stanly Community College earned the #24 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. In-state tuition and fees average $2,672, with out-of-state students paying around $8,816. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $41,920 early in their careers.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earned the #25 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,660, compared with $8,804 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,252 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $42,443. Set against $16,252 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for welding technology/welder this year:
More Welding Technology/Welder Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 55 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.
