by our College Data Analytics Team
[Welding Technology/Welder](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/welding-technology-welder/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong welding technology/welder education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 73 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value welding technology/welder schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the welding technology/welder degrees they offer, see the list below.
South Texas College tops our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools in Texas. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $6,868. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $28,716. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brazosport College earned it the #2 place for welding technology/welder. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $6,625. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in welding technology/welder will find it at College Of The Mainland, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $40,788 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Del Mar College earned it the #4 place for welding technology/welder. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in welding technology/welder will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #5. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
1
2
3
4
5
Alvin Community College came in at #6 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange placed #7 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,506 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $45,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $10,916 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $28,408. Set against $10,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Valley Community College earned the #9 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $12,323 in student loans. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,123. Set against $12,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Bend College placed #10 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,916, compared with $5,226 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $14,609. Median earnings reach $35,086 ten years out. Set against $14,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Texas College earned the #11 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $6,150. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $8,691. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Western Texas College generally make around $68,077. Set against $8,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College placed #12 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $35,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victoria College earned the #13 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Victoria, Victoria College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,976 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,328. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $10,910 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Victoria College earn a median of $50,201 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College landed the #14 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from St Philips College generally make around $45,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District came in at #15 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,970 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $42,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College landed the #16 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College landed the #17 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $9,000. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $43,454. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur earned the #18 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,770 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $33,385 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lamar State College Port Arthur generally make around $78,580. Set against $33,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Texas College placed #19 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Central Texas College is a large public school located in the suburb of Killeen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,750, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $11,290 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Texas College earned the #20 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ranger College earned the #21 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Ranger, Ranger College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,766, with out-of-state students paying around $9,066. Students borrow a median of $12,749 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $35,756. That is a strong return on a $12,749 median debt.
Laredo Community College placed #22 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Laredo Community College is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $24,836. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College landed the #23 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,160, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $16,734. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $44,322. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District placed #24 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Vernon College landed the #25 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Vernon College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Vernon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,720, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $5,500. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Vernon College earn a median of $32,206 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in welding technology/welder:
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
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 · 73 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.