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2027 Best Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Illinois

39 Colleges in the United States
2,985 Welding Technology/Welder Degrees Awarded
$40,663 Avg Early-Career Salary

Welding Technology/Welder programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their welding technology/welder programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for welding technology/welder students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Welding Technology/Welder in Illinois

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the welding technology/welder degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Welding Technology/Welder

1
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Leading the list is Harper College, our #1 school for welding technology/welder. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. About 110 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Harper College

2

A rank of #2 makes College Of Lake County one of the top schools for welding technology/welder. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. There were roughly 207 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,785. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from College Of Lake County

3

Heartland Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in welding technology/welder, ranking #3. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Normal. There were roughly 138 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Heartland Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Heartland Community College earn a median of $48,710 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,266 to complete this degree. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Heartland Community College

4

Joliet Junior College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Joliet Junior College awarded about 86 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Joliet Junior College

5

A rank of #5 makes Waubonsee Community College one of the top schools for welding technology/welder. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. There were roughly 56 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Waubonsee Community College earn around $39,659 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,939 to complete this degree. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Waubonsee Community College

6
Illinois Central College crest
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL

Illinois Central College earned the #6 position for welding technology/welder this year. Illinois Central College is a large public school located in the suburb of East Peoria. About 132 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Illinois Central College in the most recent year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $53,190 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,222. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Illinois Central College

7

Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #7 for welding technology/welder this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Lewis And Clark Community College awarded about 153 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Lewis And Clark Community College earn around $37,195 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,602. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Lewis And Clark Community College

8

Kankakee Community College landed the #8 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. There were roughly 91 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Kankakee Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $60,509 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,289. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Kankakee Community College

9
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage landed the #9 spot for welding technology/welder this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. There were roughly 41 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from College Of Dupage earn around $43,025 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete this degree. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at College Of Dupage

10

Elgin Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. About 55 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Elgin Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $43,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Elgin Community College

11

Illinois Valley Community College earned the #11 position for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 45 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Illinois Valley Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. Typical student debt for the program is $8,099. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Illinois Valley Community College

12

Lincoln Land Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. About 91 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Lincoln Land Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $33,298 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,272. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Lincoln Land Community College

13
Rock Valley College crest
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL

Rock Valley College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. There were roughly 45 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Rock Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Rock Valley College earn around $41,080 in the first couple years of their career. Rock Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Rock Valley College

14

Sauk Valley Community College landed the #14 spot for welding technology/welder this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Dixon. Sauk Valley Community College awarded about 145 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Sauk Valley Community College earn around $48,855 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,811 to complete this degree. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Sauk Valley Community College

15

Highland Community College Freeport ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Set in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 30 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Highland Community College Freeport in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Highland Community College Freeport earn around $46,384 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,783 to complete this degree. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Highland Community College Freeport

16
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College landed the #16 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Lake Land College awarded about 71 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $27,808 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete this degree. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Lake Land College

17

Southwestern Illinois College landed the #17 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. About 155 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $31,692 in their early career. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Southwestern Illinois College

18

Black Hawk College earned the #18 position for welding technology/welder this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Moline. About 17 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Black Hawk College in the most recent year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Black Hawk College earn a median of $44,286 early in their careers. Black Hawk College graduates carry a median of $11,340 in student loans. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Black Hawk College

19

Richland Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 32 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Richland Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $46,233 early in their careers. Richland Community College graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Richland Community College

20
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL

Kaskaskia College landed the #20 spot for welding technology/welder this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Centralia. There were roughly 40 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Kaskaskia College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete this degree. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Kaskaskia College

21

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public school located in the town of Olney. About 26 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College in the most recent year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earn around $30,893 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,434. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College

22

Rend Lake College came in at #22 for welding technology/welder this year. Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ina. Rend Lake College awarded about 39 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Rend Lake College earn a median of $42,770 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,688 to complete this degree. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Rend Lake College

23

Moraine Valley Community College landed the #23 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 128 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Moraine Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Moraine Valley Community College

24
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL

Mchenry County College earned the #24 position for welding technology/welder this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Mchenry County College awarded about 48 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Mchenry County College

25

John Wood Community College earned the #25 position for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 18 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at John Wood Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $45,748 in their early career. John Wood Community College graduates carry a median of $13,844 in student loans. Get the full welding technology/welder details for John Wood Community College

Rest of the Top 39 Welding Technology/Welder Schools

These schools also placed among the best for welding technology/welder this year:

26
Carl Sandburg College crest
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, IL
27
28
Triton College crest
Triton College
River Grove, IL
29
John A Logan College crest
John A Logan College
Carterville, IL
30
31
32
33
Morton College crest
Morton College
Cicero, IL
34
South Suburban College crest
South Suburban College
South Holland, IL
35
36
37
38
39

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 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 · 39 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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