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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Ohio

22 Colleges in the United States
$12,717 Avg Student Debt
$41,239 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Badge [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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 55 schools to find the best return on investment for welding technology/welder students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Ohio

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

1

Leading the list is Lorain County Community College, our #1 best value for welding technology/welder in Ohio. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,265, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $40,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Lakeland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $19,857. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. That is a strong return on a $19,857 median debt.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clark State Community College earned it the #3 place for welding technology/welder. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,393, with out-of-state students paying around $8,049. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $20,740. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $39,734. Set against $20,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4
Owens Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, OH

A rank of #4 makes Owens Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $19,383 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5
Auburn Career Center crest
Auburn Career Center
Concord Twp, OH

Auburn Career Center came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Auburn Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Concord Twp. Students borrow a median of $10,807 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Median earnings reach $37,032 ten years out. Set against $10,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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6

Northwest State Community College landed the #6 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Northwest State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Archbold. Students from in state pay about $4,698 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,170. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $11,565 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Northwest State Community College generally make around $45,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7
Hocking College crest
Hocking College
Nelsonville, OH

Hocking College earned the #7 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $16,535. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $37,713. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

Great Oaks Career Campuses landed the #8 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $6,078 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Great Oaks Career Campuses earn a median of $41,277 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9

Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus came in at #9 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus is a small public school located in the rural area of Jefferson. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $16,535. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $42,717. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10
Buckeye Joint Vocational School crest
Buckeye Joint Vocational School
New Philadelphia, OH

Buckeye Joint Vocational School came in at #10 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of New Philadelphia, Buckeye Joint Vocational School is a small public university. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $25,844.

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11
Polaris Career Center crest
Polaris Career Center
Middleburg Heights, OH

Polaris Career Center came in at #11 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Polaris Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights. Students borrow a median of $6,365 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Polaris Career Center generally make around $32,228. That is a strong return on a $6,365 median debt.

12

Lorain County Joint Vocational School District came in at #12 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Oberlin, Lorain County Joint Vocational School District is a small public university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,776.

13

Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools landed the #13 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the suburb of Groveport, Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools is a small public university. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $6,485. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools generally make around $39,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

14

Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology came in at #14 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Troy, Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology generally make around $45,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

Warren County Career Center came in at #15 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Lebanon, Warren County Career Center is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $8,679 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Warren County Career Center generally make around $38,389. That is a strong return on a $8,679 median debt.

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16

Eti Technical College placed #16 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Eti Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Niles. Students from in state pay about $11,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $12,255. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $27,290. That is a strong return on a $12,255 median debt.

17

Portage Lakes Career Center placed #17 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the suburb of Uniontown, Portage Lakes Career Center is a small public university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,316.

18

Elite Welding Academy Llc placed #18 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Elite Welding Academy Llc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Elite Welding Academy Llc generally make around $38,717.

19

Fortis College Cincinnati came in at #19 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Fortis College Cincinnati is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,763 in tuition and fees. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Fortis College Cincinnati earn a median of $31,899 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

20

Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls came in at #20 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cuyahoga Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,596. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $20,894. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls generally make around $39,990. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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21

Ohio Technical College came in at #21 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Ohio Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students borrow a median of $10,334 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Ohio Technical College generally make around $35,508. Set against $10,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

22

Wayne County Schools Career Center landed the #22 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the town of Smithville, Wayne County Schools Career Center is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,496 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $42,438. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 55 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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