You can always buy yourself a cheap welder, a cylinder of gas, and start practicing welding on your own, but getting a proper welding education from experienced instructors in accredited schools is crucial. Welding schools offer useful hands-on and theoretical knowledge, and most of them help you find your first job placement.
Most schools require GED or high school diploma, but the requirements may differ. When choosing a school, you should pay attention to program accreditation, offered credentials, and tuition costs. We made this list of welding schools in Illinois to help you make the right choice, and make sure you don’t waste your hard-earned money.
Average Welder Salary in Illinois
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders in Illinois can earn a mean annual wage of $45,300 or a median hourly wage of $20.30, which is slightly lower than the national average welder salary of $ 46,690. The top 10% of highly skilled welders can earn up to $66,290 a year, while most beginners make $29,970.
According to careeronestop.org, Illinois is a top 10 state for projected welding growth by 2026. Most welders are employed in metal fabrication and manufacturing, while one of the most popular industries is Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing.
List of Welding Schools in Illinois
Here is a list of welding schools in Illinois with additional information to help you make the right choice. We try to keep it up to date, but keep in mind that this information may change over time, so please contact us if you notice any differences. We hope this list will help you choose the right school and start your welding education and career.
Black Hawk College
- Address: 6600 34Th Ave, Moline, IL 61265
- Phone number: (309) 796-5000
- Email: advqc@bhc.edu
- Website: https://www.bhc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Nine-month academic year budget: $12,959 home, $17,174 away
- Student/Teacher ratio: 18:1
Carl Sandburg College
- Address: 2400 Tom L Wilson Blvd, Galesburg, IL 61401
- Phone number: 309-344-2595
- Website: http://www.sandburg.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Tuition: Resident $175 per credit hour, Non-Resident $292 per credit hour, Online $175 per credit hour
- Student/Teacher ratio: 14:1
College of Dupage
- Address: 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
- Phone number: (630) 942-2626
- Website: https://www.cod.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $138, Non-resident $325
- Student/Teacher ratio: 36:1
College of Lake County
- Grayslake Campus: 19351 W Washington St, Grayslake, IL 60030
- Phone number: (847) 543-2000
- Email: info@clcillinois.edu
- Website: https://www.clcillinois.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $147, Non-resident $344
- Student/Teacher ratio: 32:1
Danville Area Community College
- Address: 2000 E Main St, Danville, IL 61832
- Phone number: 217-443-3222
- Website: https://www.dacc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $170, Non-resident $362.50
- Student/Teacher ratio: 28:1
Elgin Community College
- Address: 1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL 60123
- Phone number: 847-697-1000
- Website: https://elgin.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- SENSE School Level 1
- Tuition (per credit hour): Resident $132, Non-Resident $297, online $260
- Student/Teacher ratio: 33:1
ETI School of Skilled Trades
- Address: 500 Joliet Road, Willowbrook, IL 60527
- Phone number: (888) 830-7678
- Website: https://eticampus.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Program cost: Skilled Welder $15,999.77
Harper College
- Address: 1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067
- Phone number: 847-925-6000
- Website: https://www.harpercollege.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Tuition (per credit hour): Resident $133.50, Non-Resident $466, universal Fee $16
- Student/Teacher ratio: 34:1
Heartland Community College
- Address: 1500 West Raab Road, Normal, IL 61761
- Phone number: 309-268-8000
- Website: https://www.heartland.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Total Estimated Expenses: $12,210 with parents, $17,160 away from home
- Student/Teacher ratio: 31:1
Illinois Central College
- Address: 1 College Dr, Peoria, IL 61635
- Phone number: (309) 694-5422
- Website: https://www.icc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- Tuition (per credit hour): Resident $155, Non-Resident $390
- Student/Teacher ratio: 28:1
Illinois Valley Community College
- Address: 815 N Orlando Smith St, Oglesby, IL 61348
- Phone number: (815) 224-2720
- Website: https://www.ivcc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- AWS Accredited Test Facility
- Tuition: Full time student (12 credit hours per semester) $3,192; Part-time student $1,596
- Student/Teacher ratio: 24:1
Illinois Welding School
- Address: 1315 Enterprise Dr, Romeoville, IL 60446
- Phone number: 888-632-9353
- Website: https://ilws.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Program cost: Structural Welding Specialist $9,995; Pipe Welding Specialist $12,000; Combination Welding $15,500; Basic Welding $1,500; BrushUp/Refresher Welding $850
- 70% Hands-on Training
John A Logan College
- Address: 700 Logan College Rd, Carterville, IL 62918
- Phone number: (618) 985-2828
- Website: https://www.jalc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Tuition and fees (Per credit hour): Resident $133.00, Non-resident $222.00
- Student/Teacher ratio: 23:1
John Wood Community College
- Address: 1301 S 48Th Street, Quincy, IL 62305
- Phone number: 217-224-6500
- Website: https://www.jwcc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- One year tuition: $5,216
- Student/Teacher ratio: 13:1
Joliet Junior College
- Address: 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431
- Phone number: 815-729-9020
- Website: https://www.jjc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- Estimated Cost of Attendance: $14,674, away $19,168
- Student/Teacher ratio: 38:1
Kankakee Community College
- Address: 100 College Drive, Kankakee, IL 60901
- Phone number: 815-802-8100
- Website: https://kcc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $165, Out of district $440
- Student/Teacher ratio: 20:1
Kaskaskia College
- Address: 27210 College Rd, Centralia, IL 62801
- Phone number: (800) 642-0859
- Website: https://www.kaskaskia.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $152, Out of district $251
- Student/Teacher ratio: 26:1
Kennedy-King College
- Address: 6301 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60621
- Phone number: 773-265-5343
- Website: https://www.ccc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Combination Welder Tuition: Resident $2,200.00, Out of district $4,840.00
- Student/Teacher ratio: 24:1
Kishwaukee College
- Address: 21193 Malta Rd, Malta, IL 60150
- Phone number: 815-825-2086
- Website: https://www.kish.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- AWS Accredited Test Facility
- Tuition (per credit hour): Resident $147, Out of district $249 + 17$ mandatory fees
- Student/Teacher ratio: 26:1
Lake Land College
- Address: 5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL 61938
- Phone number: 217-234-5253
- Website: https://www.lakelandcollege.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- Full-time student one-year tuition and fees: Resident $4,260.00, Out of district $8,083.80
- Student/Teacher ratio: 19:1
Lewis and Clark Community College
- Address: 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, IL 62035
- Phone number: (618) 468-7000
- Website: https://www.lc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- Tuition (per credit hour): Resident $125, Out of district $375
- Student/Teacher ratio: 11:1
Lincoln Land Community College
- Address: 1000 Railer Way, Lincoln, IL 62656
- Springfield Campus: 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703
- Taylorvillle Campus: 800 S Spresser, Taylorville, IL 62568
- Phone number: 800-727-4161
- Website: https://www.llcc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
Lincoln Tech – Melrose Park
- Address: 8317 West North Avenue, Melrose Park, IL 60160
- Phone number: 844-768-1277
- Website: https://www.lincolntech.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Welding Program Estimated cost: $23,020
- Student/Teacher ratio: 26:1
Parkland College
- Address: 2400 W Bradley Ave, Champaign, IL 61821
- Phone number: 888-467-6065
- Website: https://www.parkland.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Total Cost of Attendance: Full time Resident $15,130, Out of district $21,580
- Student/Teacher ratio: 25:1
Midwest Technical Institute
- Moline Campus: 3620 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, IL 61265
- Peoria Campus: 280 High Point Ln, East Peoria, IL 61611
- Springfield Campus: 2731 Farmers Market Road, Springfield, IL 62707
- Phone number: (800) 814-5124
- Website: https://www.midwesttech.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Welding Program cost: $5,000-$15,000
Moraine Valley Community College
- Address: 9000 West College Parkway, Palos Hills, IL 60465
- Phone number: (708) 974-4300
- Website: https://www.morainevalley.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Tuition (per credit hour): Resident $131, Out of district $ 316
- Student/Teacher ratio: 21:1
Olney Central College
- Address: 305 North West St, Olney, IL 62450
- Phone number: 618-393-2982
- Website: https://www.iecc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Tuition and fees per year: $4,090
- Student/Teacher ratio: 19:1
Prairie State College
- Address: 202 S Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
- Phone number: (708) 709-3500
- Website: https://prairiestate.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $174, Out of district $389.25
- Student/Teacher ratio: 23:1
Richard J. Daley College
- Address: 7500 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652
- Phone number: 773-838-7500
- Website: https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/daley
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Welding program tuition (per credit hour): Resident $146.00, Out of district $384.00
- Student/Teacher ratio: 36:1
Richland Community College
- Address: One College Park, Decatur, IL 62521
- Phone number: (217) 875-7200
- Website: https://richland.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $153, Out of district $384.00
- Student/Teacher ratio: 20:1
Rend Lake College
- Address: 468 N Ken Gray Parkway, Ina, IL 62846
- Phone number: 618-437-5321
- Website: https://www.rlc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Program cost: Welding technology $4,364.00
- Student/Teacher ratio: 19:1
Rock Valley College
- Address: 4151 Samuelson Rd, Rockford, IL 61109
- Phone number: 800-973-7821
- Website: https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- AWS Accredited Test Facility
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $140, Out of district $305.00
- Student/Teacher ratio: 24:1
Sauk Valley Community College
- Address: 173 IL Rt 2, Dixon, IL 61021
- Phone number: 815-288-5511
- Website: https://www.svcc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- SENSE School Level 1 & 2
- Resident Program cost: Welder: Advanced $2,480.00, Welder: Entry level $620.00, Welding: Robotic Welding $775.00
- Student/Teacher ratio: 14:1
Shawnee Community College
- Address: 8364 Shawnee College Road, Ullin, IL 62992
- Phone number: 800-481-2242
- Website: https://www.shawneecc.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $155, out of district $230 + Welding Lab fee $40-$75
- Student/Teacher ratio: 15:1
Southwestern Illinois College
- Granite City Campus: 4950 Maryville Rd, Granite City, IL 62040
- Phone number: 866-942-7942
- Website: https://www.swic.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- Tuition (per credit hour): Resident $113, out of district $204
- Student/Teacher ratio: 33:1
Southeastern Illinois College
- Address: 3575 College Rd, Harrisburg, IL 62946
- Phone number: 866-338-2742
- Email: info@sic.edu
- Website: https://www.sic.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $151, out of district $230
- Student/Teacher ratio: 26:1
Triton College
- Address: 2000 Fifth Ave, River Grove, IL 60171
- Phone number: 708-456-0300
- Website: https://www.triton.edu
- Credentials Offered: Certification
- Tuition and fees (per credit hour): Resident $138, out of district $357 + $16 mandatory fees
- Student/Teacher ratio: 38:1
Waubonsee Community College
- Address: 4S783 IL-47, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
- Phone number: 630-466-7900
- Website: https://www.waubonsee.edu/
- Credentials Offered: Certification, Associate degree