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2026 Best Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Iowa

2 Colleges in the United States
999 Welding Technology/Welder Degrees Awarded
$43,209 Avg Early-Career Salary

Welding Technology/Welder degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for welding technology/welder students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Welding Technology/Welder in Iowa

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall welding technology/welder education in Iowa.

Top Schools in Welding Technology/Welder

1

Our analysis ranked Western Iowa Tech Community College the best school in the country for a degree in welding technology/welder. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. About 29 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $41,613 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,910. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Western Iowa Tech Community College

2

Students looking for a strong welding technology/welder program will find one at Marshalltown Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 63 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Marshalltown Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Marshalltown Community College earn a median of $45,972 early in their careers. Marshalltown Community College graduates carry a median of $11,577 in student loans. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Marshalltown Community College

3

A rank of #3 makes Indian Hills Community College one of the top schools for welding technology/welder. Set in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 56 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Indian Hills Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Indian Hills Community College generally make around $49,626. Typical student debt for the program is $15,390. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Indian Hills Community College

4

Northwest Iowa Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in welding technology/welder, ranking #4. Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheldon. About 11 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Northwest Iowa Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Northwest Iowa Community College generally make around $54,373. Typical student debt for the program is $12,271. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Northwest Iowa Community College

5

A rank of #5 makes Des Moines Area Community College one of the top schools for welding technology/welder. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. About 333 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $39,397 in their early career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Des Moines Area Community College

6

Hawkeye Community College earned the #6 position for welding technology/welder this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Waterloo. About 39 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $45,509 in the first couple years of their career. Hawkeye Community College graduates carry a median of $7,874 in student loans. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Hawkeye Community College

7

Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned the #7 position for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public university. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar awarded about 11 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $43,588 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,479. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar

8

North Iowa Area Community College earned the #8 position for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. North Iowa Area Community College awarded about 30 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from North Iowa Area Community College generally make around $44,466. North Iowa Area Community College graduates carry a median of $12,043 in student loans. Get the full welding technology/welder details for North Iowa Area Community College

9

Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #9 spot for welding technology/welder this year. This large public university is located in the city of Davenport. Eastern Iowa Community College District awarded about 153 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Eastern Iowa Community College District earn around $41,510 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete this degree. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Eastern Iowa Community College District

10

Iowa Central Community College landed the #10 spot for welding technology/welder this year. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. There were roughly 44 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Iowa Central Community College earn around $27,404 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,135 to complete this degree. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Iowa Central Community College

11
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College earned the #11 position for welding technology/welder this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. About 48 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $48,114 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500. See the full welding technology/welder program report for Kirkwood Community College

12

Southwestern Community College Creston placed #12 among the best welding technology/welder schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Creston. Southwestern Community College Creston awarded about 40 welding technology/welder degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their welding technology/welder degree from Southwestern Community College Creston earn around $46,106 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,881. Read more about the welding technology/welder program at Southwestern Community College Creston

13

Iowa Lakes Community College landed the #13 spot for welding technology/welder this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Estherville. There were roughly 14 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Lakes Community College in the most recent data year. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Iowa Lakes Community College earn a median of $46,937 early in their careers. Iowa Lakes Community College graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans. More information about a degree in welding technology/welder from Iowa Lakes Community College

14

Southeastern Community College West Burlington came in at #14 for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 46 welding technology/welder students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern Community College West Burlington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the welding technology/welder program make about $45,760 in their early career. Southeastern Community College West Burlington graduates carry a median of $16,126 in student loans. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Southeastern Community College West Burlington

15

Iowa Western Community College came in at #15 for welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 82 welding technology/welder degrees were awarded at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $27,761. Iowa Western Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Get the full welding technology/welder details for Iowa Western Community College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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