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2026 Best Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Virginia

1 Colleges in the United States
885 Welding Technology/Welder Degrees Awarded
$35,394 Avg Early-Career Salary

Welding Technology/Welder programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for welding technology/welder students pursuing a degree.

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Best Schools for Welding Technology/Welder in Virginia

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

No school ranked higher than Central Virginia Community College this year for welding technology/welder. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 118 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Central Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Central Virginia Community College earn a median of $37,281 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,625. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Central Virginia Community College

2

A rank of #2 makes John Tyler Community College one of the top schools for welding technology/welder. This large public university is located in the suburb of Chester. There were roughly 37 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at John Tyler Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $39,273 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,262. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at John Tyler Community College

3

Danville Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Danville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. There were roughly 17 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Danville Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Danville Community College earn a median of $44,922 early in their careers. Danville Community College graduates carry a median of $9,494 in student loans. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Danville Community College

4

Patrick Henry Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in welding technology/welder, ranking #4. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Martinsville. There were roughly 69 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Patrick Henry Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $37,030 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,235. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Patrick Henry Community College

5

Southside Virginia Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in welding technology/welder, ranking #5. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 71 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Southside Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $29,666 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,467 to complete this degree. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Southside Virginia Community College

6

Wytheville Community College earned the #6 position for welding technology/welder this year. Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wytheville. There were roughly 13 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Wytheville Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Wytheville Community College earn a median of $40,973 early in their careers. Wytheville Community College graduates carry a median of $9,542 in student loans. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Wytheville Community College

7

Tidewater Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best welding technology/welder schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. About 45 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Tidewater Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Tidewater Community College earn around $23,785 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,455. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Tidewater Community College

8

Mountain Empire Community College landed the #8 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 51 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Mountain Empire Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $36,988 in their early career. Mountain Empire Community College graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Mountain Empire Community College

9

Eastern Shore Community College placed #9 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Located in the rural area of Melfa, Eastern Shore Community College is a small public university. Eastern Shore Community College awarded about 23 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Eastern Shore Community College

10

Paul D Camp Community College earned the #10 position for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Franklin, Paul D Camp Community College is a small public university. About 11 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Paul D Camp Community College in the most recent year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Paul D Camp Community College earn a median of $40,070 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,074. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Paul D Camp Community College

11

New River Community College came in at #11 for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of Dublin, New River Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 48 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at New River Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from New River Community College generally make around $46,892. Typical student debt for the program is $13,132. See the full welding technology/welder program report for New River Community College

12

Southwest Virginia Community College came in at #12 for welding technology/welder this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff. Southwest Virginia Community College awarded about 27 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $32,277 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Southwest Virginia Community College

13

Virginia Western Community College came in at #13 for welding technology/welder this year. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. About 33 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Virginia Western Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $22,788 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,715. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Virginia Western Community College

14

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College placed #14 among the best welding technology/welder schools. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. About 21 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $36,965 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete this degree. See the full welding technology/welder program report for J Sargeant Reynolds Community College

15

Virginia Highlands Community College placed #15 among the best welding technology/welder schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Abingdon. About 25 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Virginia Highlands Community College in the most recent year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Virginia Highlands Community College earn a median of $21,472 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,490. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Virginia Highlands Community College

16
Advanced Technology Institute crest
Advanced Technology Institute
Virginia Beach, VA

Advanced Technology Institute placed #16 among the best welding technology/welder schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. Advanced Technology Institute awarded about 59 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Advanced Technology Institute earn a median of $43,656 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,674 to complete this degree. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Advanced Technology Institute

17

Tidewater Tech Trades earned the #17 position for welding technology/welder this year. Tidewater Tech Trades is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Norfolk. About 217 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Tidewater Tech Trades in the most recent year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Tidewater Tech Trades earn a median of $32,269 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Tidewater Tech Trades

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 22 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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