2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Kansas
[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.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value welding technology/welder schools.
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2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in welding technology/welder, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools
For return on investment in welding technology/welder, no school beat Hutchinson Community College this year. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $18,148 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $42,285 early in their careers. 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 Fort Scott Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $3,840. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $12,990 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Fort Scott Community College earn a median of $40,041 early in their careers. Set against $12,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned it the #3 place for welding technology/welder. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, compared with $5,408 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,175 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. 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.
A rank of #4 makes Coffeyville Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
Dodge City Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,650, with out-of-state students paying around $5,850. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,427.
Salina Area Technical College earned the #6 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,128. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $17,124. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $38,440. That is a strong return on a $17,124 median debt.
Cowley County Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $6,600. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,312. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Cowley County Community College earn a median of $34,099 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Labette Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Labette Community College is a small public school located in the town of Parsons. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,064, while out-of-state students pay about $4,864. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $12,288. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $46,710. That is a strong return on a $12,288 median debt.
Pratt Community College landed the #9 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the town of Pratt, Pratt Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $4,936. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $10,327. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Pratt Community College earn a median of $61,703 early in their careers. Set against $10,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Neosho County Community College placed #10 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,704. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $13,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Neosho County Community College generally make around $44,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Garden City Community College placed #11 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,690, compared with $4,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,084 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,476. Set against $11,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita Area Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 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. Students borrow a median of $5,564 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $30,515 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Highland Community College Highland earned the #13 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Highland Community College Highland is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Highland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,495. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Highland Community College Highland generally make around $22,909. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Manhattan Area Technical College placed #14 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Manhattan Area Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,844. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. 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.
Barton County Community College landed the #15 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Barton County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Great Bend. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,680, with out-of-state students paying around $4,960. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $14,792 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $44,536. That is a strong return on a $14,792 median debt.
Northwest Kansas Technical College came in at #16 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Goodland. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #17 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $8,880 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $6,642. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,720. That is a strong return on a $6,642 median debt.
Johnson County Community College placed #18 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $46,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #19 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,996, while out-of-state students pay about $6,482. 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.
Flint Hills Technical College landed the #20 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Flint Hills Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. In-state tuition and fees average $6,944. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $14,690 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Flint Hills Technical College generally make around $36,731. Set against $14,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Kansas Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,928 ten years after entry.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
