2027 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Texas
[Welding Technology/Welder](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/welding-technology-welder/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 66 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 Texas
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
Del Mar College tops our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools in Texas. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $40,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Mainland one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in welding technology/welder will find it at South Texas College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $28,716. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes El Paso Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $8,542. Welding Technology/welder graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $45,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victoria College landed the #6 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Victoria College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,976, while out-of-state students pay about $5,328. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $10,910 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $50,201. That is a strong return on a $10,910 median debt.
Lamar State College Port Arthur landed the #7 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $33,385 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lamar State College Port Arthur generally make around $78,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College placed #8 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $10,916. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $28,408. That is a strong return on a $10,916 median debt.
El Centro College came in at #9 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $35,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $15,653. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $45,185. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,180, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Tarrant County College District ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brazosport College came in at #13 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $6,625. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $32,746. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Texas College came in at #14 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Western Texas College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Snyder. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,150. Students borrow a median of $8,691 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Western Texas College generally make around $68,077. Set against $8,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Bend College landed the #15 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,916 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,226. Students borrow a median of $14,609 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,086 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,609 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $12,323. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Trinity Valley Community College generally make around $35,123. That is a strong return on a $12,323 median debt.
Kilgore College came in at #17 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $44,322. That is a strong return on a $16,734 median debt.
Panola College came in at #18 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Carthage, Panola College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,352, with out-of-state students paying around $5,232. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,072 ten years after entry.
Austin Community College District ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $14,970 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $42,270. Set against $14,970 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College came in at #20 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Houston Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $10,022. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $27,696 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,022 median debt.
Lee College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $10,941. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College came in at #23 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $47,856. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ranger College landed the #24 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the rural area of Ranger, Ranger College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,766, compared with $9,066 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $12,749 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,756. Set against $12,749 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College earned the #25 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $15,965. Welding Technology/welder graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. Set against $15,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in welding technology/welder:
More Welding Technology/Welder Rankings
View All Welding Technology/Welder Rankings >
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 · 66 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 66 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.
