2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Wisconsin
[Welding Technology/Welder](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/welding-technology-welder/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for welding technology/welder students.
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2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Wisconsin
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
Lakeshore Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools in Wisconsin. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $11,582. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lakeshore Technical College generally make around $48,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $42,282 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,199. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,700 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $38,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,500. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $43,380 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Nicolet Area Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Rhinelander. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,793, with out-of-state students paying around $7,066. Students borrow a median of $11,400 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Nicolet Area Technical College earn a median of $46,419 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #6 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #7 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $41,073 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #8 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. In-state tuition and fees average $4,904, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $5,500. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,167. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $41,421. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blackhawk Technical College landed the #10 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Blackhawk Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,747, with out-of-state students paying around $6,803. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Blackhawk Technical College earn a median of $44,698 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid State Technical College earned the #11 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. Students from in state pay about $5,002 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,171. Students borrow a median of $4,750 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $38,653. Set against $4,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #12 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $7,664. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $52,978 early in their careers. Set against $7,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College earned the #13 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $5,250 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $47,718. Set against $5,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #14 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,109 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $48,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $40,624 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College earned the #16 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $37,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 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.
