by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for welding technology/welder students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in welding technology/welder, balancing cost against outcomes.
Dodge City Community College earned the #1 spot for value among welding technology/welder schools in Kansas. Set in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,850 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $45,427 ten years out.
Coffeyville Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Coffeyville Community College is a small public school located in the town of Coffeyville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,680. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $12,838 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Coffeyville Community College earn a median of $45,342 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salina Area Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,128. Students borrow a median of $17,124 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $38,440. Set against $17,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in welding technology/welder will find it at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School, which ranked #4. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. In-state tuition and fees average $4,032, with out-of-state students paying around $5,408. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,175 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School generally make around $53,375. 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 Hutchinson Community College, which ranked #5. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,770. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $42,285. Set against $18,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Labette Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Labette Community College is a small public school located in the town of Parsons. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,064, compared with $4,864 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $12,288 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $46,710. Set against $12,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fort Scott Community College placed #7 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Fort Scott Community College is a small public school located in the town of Fort Scott. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $3,840. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $12,990. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Fort Scott Community College earn a median of $40,041 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,990 median debt.
Cowley County Community College earned the #8 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,600. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $34,099. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Colby Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Colby Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Colby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $5,830. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $14,796 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Colby Community College earn a median of $40,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,796 median debt.
Garden City Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,690, while out-of-state students pay about $4,320. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $11,084. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,476. Set against $11,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washburn Institute Of Technology came in at #11 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Topeka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,880. Students borrow a median of $6,642 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Washburn Institute Of Technology earn a median of $39,720 early in their careers. Set against $6,642 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita Area Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,237 in tuition and fees. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $5,564 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $30,515. That is a strong return on a $5,564 median debt.
Pratt Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the town of Pratt, Pratt Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $4,936. Students borrow a median of $10,327 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $61,703. Set against $10,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Barton County Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,680 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,960. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $14,792. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Barton County Community College earn a median of $44,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,792 median debt.
Manhattan Area Technical College placed #15 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the city of Manhattan, Manhattan Area Technical College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,844. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $8,250. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Manhattan Area Technical College generally make around $34,077. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Neosho County Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,704. Students borrow a median of $13,209 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Neosho County Community College generally make around $44,672. That is a strong return on a $13,209 median debt.
Highland Community College Highland placed #17 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College Highland is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,495. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $22,909. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
North Central Kansas Technical College placed #18 among the best values for welding technology/welder. North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Beloit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,350. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,928 ten years after entry.
Northwest Kansas Technical College earned the #19 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Goodland, Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $41,638.
Johnson County Community College earned the #20 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $46,473. Set against $13,532 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Flint Hills Technical College placed #21 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the town of Emporia, Flint Hills Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,944 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $14,690. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $36,731. Set against $14,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kansas City Kansas Community College earned the #22 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,996, compared with $6,482 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,129 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Kansas City Kansas Community College generally make around $36,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.