2026 Best Welding Technology/Welder Schools in the Far Western Region
Welding Technology/Welder is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 121 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for welding technology/welder students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Welding Technology/Welder in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall welding technology/welder education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Welding Technology/Welder
Truckee Meadows Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in welding technology/welder. Set in the city of Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public institution. About 113 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Truckee Meadows Community College in the most recent year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Truckee Meadows Community College earn a median of $52,785 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,290.
Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Truckee Meadows Community College
Students looking for a strong welding technology/welder program will find one at Renton Technical College, which ranked #2. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Renton. About 33 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Renton Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $80,411 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,582.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Renton Technical College
Students looking for a strong welding technology/welder program will find one at Butte College, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the rural area of Oroville. There were roughly 177 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Butte College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Butte College earn around $67,048 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong welding technology/welder program will find one at Mt San Antonio College, which ranked #4. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. About 47 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans.
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Cerritos College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Cerritos College awarded about 214 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Cerritos College earn around $29,495 in the first couple years of their career. Cerritos College graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans.
More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Cerritos College
Great Basin College placed #6 among the best welding technology/welder schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Elko. Roughly 14% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Great Basin College in the most recent year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Great Basin College earn a median of $67,461 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,128 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College placed #7 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. About 50 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $80,047 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Santa Rosa Junior College
Seattle Community College South Campus landed the #8 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College South Campus awarded about 55 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Seattle Community College South Campus
Clover Park Technical College came in at #9 for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public university. About 53 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Clover Park Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. Typical student debt for the program is $15,154.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Clover Park Technical College
Western Nevada College placed #10 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Set in the city of Carson City, Western Nevada College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 148 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Western Nevada College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $47,257 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Western Nevada College
Green River Community College placed #11 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Green River Community College is a large public school located in the city of Auburn. Green River Community College awarded about 12 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Green River Community College
Chabot College came in at #12 for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public institution. About 30 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Chabot College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $85,175 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete this degree.
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Portland Community College earned the #13 position for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public university. Portland Community College awarded about 239 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Portland Community College generally make around $49,580. Typical student debt for the program is $20,648.
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University Of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #14 spot for welding technology/welder this year. University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public school located in the city of Fairbanks. University Of Alaska Fairbanks graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alaska Fairbanks in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks generally make around $50,963. Typical student debt for the program is $23,439.
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Bates Technical College placed #15 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Bates Technical College awarded about 44 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Bates Technical College
Cuesta College landed the #16 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. There were roughly 79 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Cuesta College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Cuesta College graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Cuesta College
Walla Walla Community College landed the #17 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 50 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Walla Walla Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Walla Walla Community College earn around $46,131 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
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Honolulu Community College placed #18 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Set in the city of Honolulu, Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Honolulu Community College awarded about 36 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $59,006 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,868.
Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Honolulu Community College
Clark College landed the #19 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Vancouver, Clark College is a moderately-sized public university. Clark College awarded about 88 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Clark College generally make around $46,609. Clark College graduates carry a median of $15,432 in student loans.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Clark College
Orange Coast College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. There were roughly 30 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Orange Coast College
Fresno City College placed #21 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Fresno City College awarded about 69 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete this degree.
Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Fresno City College
University Of Alaska Southeast came in at #22 for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Juneau, University Of Alaska Southeast is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. University Of Alaska Southeast awarded about 21 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of University Of Alaska Southeast earn a median of $63,014 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,458 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from University Of Alaska Southeast
Reedley College landed the #23 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. About 44 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Reedley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Reedley College
Santa Ana College landed the #24 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. About 50 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $45,864. Santa Ana College graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Santa Ana College
Bellingham Technical College landed the #25 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. About 65 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Bellingham Technical College in the most recent year.
See the full welding technology/welder program report for Bellingham Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Welding Technology/Welder Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s welding technology/welder ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 121 schools evaluated.
- 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.
