2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Kentucky
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong welding technology/welder education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 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 Kentucky
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
Our analysis ranked Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College the best value for a degree in welding technology/welder in Kentucky. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,413 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $49,879. That is a strong return on a $9,413 median debt.
Hazard Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $12,212 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Hazard Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,626 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Somerset Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $8,439 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $41,415. That is a strong return on a $8,439 median debt.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #4 spot this year. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,687 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $30,566 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,687 median debt.
Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,475 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,366 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hopkinsville Community College placed #6 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $13,269. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Hopkinsville Community College earn a median of $43,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashland Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 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 Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $36,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $11,588. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $33,956. That is a strong return on a $11,588 median debt.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best values for welding technology/welder. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Paducah. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,603. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Henderson Community College landed the #10 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Henderson Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Henderson. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $13,528 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $40,259. That is a strong return on a $13,528 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $7,166 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,941 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maysville Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Located in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $9,820 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $36,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College landed the #13 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $10,985. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of $41,084 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community And Technical College earned the #14 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Gateway Community And Technical College generally make around $42,233. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Students borrow a median of $10,684 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $46,133. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #16 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $6,794. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,346 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,794 median debt.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
