80 schools · California
Welding schools in California
80 schools in California offer welding programs (68 of them public), with 79 certificate and 53 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $42,974 a year after finishing, compared with $42,730 nationally.
Schools80
Public schools68
Certificate programs79
Certificate: earnings 1 yr after$42,974
Certificate: earnings 4 yrs after$47,614
Associate: earnings 1 yr aftern/a
All welding programs in California
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 67 | $55,962 | $68,633 | n/a | $1,188 |
| Universal Technical Institute of California IncRancho Cucamonga, CA | For-profit 2-year college | Certificate | 170 | $45,023 | $52,936 | $6,855 | n/a |
| Universal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaLong Beach, CA | For-profit 2-year college | Certificate | 195 | $45,023 | $52,936 | $6,855 | n/a |
| Butte CollegeOroville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 172 | $44,449 | $64,811 | n/a | $1,374 |
| The Fab SchoolRancho Cucamonga, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 137 | $43,690 | $52,227 | $4,449 | $31,125 |
| Merced CollegeMerced, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 147 | $43,274 | $44,926 | n/a | $1,202 |
| Summit CollegeSan Bernardino, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 193 | $43,078 | $47,614 | $9,497 | $19,995 |
| Institute of TechnologyClovis, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 41 | $42,870 | n/a | $7,773 | $33,367 |
| Advanced Career InstituteVisalia, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 190 | $42,736 | $45,475 | $7,979 | $5,970 |
| CET-ColtonColton, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 42 | $40,502 | $47,291 | $8,305 | $16,375 |
| CET-El CentroEl Centro, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 45 | $40,502 | $47,291 | $8,305 | $15,000 |
| CET-San DiegoSan Diego, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 85 | $40,502 | $47,291 | $8,305 | $15,500 |
| CET-WatsonvilleWatsonville, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 34 | $40,502 | $47,291 | $8,305 | $15,249 |
| UEI College-GardenaGardena, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 96 | $34,817 | n/a | $9,500 | $21,500 |
| Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA | Community college | Certificate | 62 | n/a | $67,355 | n/a | $1,428 |
| Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | $65,618 | n/a | $1,188 |
| Reedley CollegeReedley, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 53 | n/a | $50,578 | n/a | $1,334 |
| Imperial Valley CollegeImperial, CA | Community college | Certificate | 14 | n/a | $40,311 | n/a | $1,148 |
| Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Maria, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 62 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,158 |
| Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Maria, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,158 |
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 54 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster, CA | Community college | Certificate | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,124 |
| Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,124 |
| Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, CA | Community college | Certificate | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,450 |
| Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,450 |
| Barstow Community CollegeBarstow, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 45 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,104 |
| Barstow Community CollegeBarstow, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,104 |
| Butte CollegeOroville, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,374 |
| Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,270 |
| Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 207 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Cerro Coso Community CollegeRidgecrest, CA | Community college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,384 |
| Cerro Coso Community CollegeRidgecrest, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,384 |
| Chabot CollegeHayward, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Chabot CollegeHayward, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Charles A Jones Career and Education CenterSacramento, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $25,100 |
| City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,696 |
| Coalinga CollegeCoalinga, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,384 |
| College of MarinKentfield, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,558 |
| College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA | Community college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,170 |
| College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,170 |
| College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,326 |
| College of the RedwoodsEureka, CA | Community college | Certificate | 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,198 |
| College of the RedwoodsEureka, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,198 |
| College of the SequoiasVisalia, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,394 |
| College of the SequoiasVisalia, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,394 |
| College of the SiskiyousWeed, CA | Community college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,444 |
| College of the SiskiyousWeed, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,444 |
| Columbia CollegeSonora, CA | Community college | Certificate | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,276 |
| Compton CollegeCompton, CA | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,142 |
| Compton CollegeCompton, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,142 |
| Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 22 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 74 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,350 |
| Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,350 |
| De Anza CollegeCupertino, CA | Community college | Certificate | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,577 |
| De Anza CollegeCupertino, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,577 |
| El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance, CA | Community college | Certificate | 32 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,580 |
| Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,580 |
| Fresno City CollegeFresno, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 56 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Fresno City CollegeFresno, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Fullerton CollegeFullerton, CA | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,150 |
| Glendale Community CollegeGlendale, CA | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,195 |
| Glendale Community CollegeGlendale, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,195 |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult EducationLa Puente, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 39 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,305 |
| Hartnell CollegeSalinas, CA | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,404 |
| Hartnell CollegeSalinas, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,404 |
| Imperial Valley CollegeImperial, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,148 |
| Laney CollegeOakland, CA | Community college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,258 |
| Laney CollegeOakland, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,258 |
| Las Positas CollegeLivermore, CA | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,348 |
| Las Positas CollegeLivermore, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,348 |
| Lassen Community CollegeSusanville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,144 |
| Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 65 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,560 |
| Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,560 |
| Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland Hills, CA | Community college | Certificate | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland Hills, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 58 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Medanos CollegePittsburg, CA | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Los Medanos CollegePittsburg, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Madera Community CollegeMadera, CA | Community college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Madera Community CollegeMadera, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Merced CollegeMerced, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,202 |
| Modesto Junior CollegeModesto, CA | Community college | Certificate | 79 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,276 |
| Modesto Junior CollegeModesto, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,276 |
| Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA | Community college | Certificate | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Napa Valley CollegeNapa, CA | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| Napa Valley CollegeNapa, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| Norco CollegeNorco, CA | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,428 |
| Norco CollegeNorco, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,428 |
| Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 53 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,222 |
| Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,222 |
| Palo Verde CollegeBlythe, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 22 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Palo Verde CollegeBlythe, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 45 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA | Community college | Certificate | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career EducationPomona, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,000 |
| Reedley CollegeReedley, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,388 |
| Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,428 |
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA | Community college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,185 |
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,185 |
| San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton, CA | Community college | Certificate | 33 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| San Jose City CollegeSan Jose, CA | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,366 |
| San Jose City CollegeSan Jose, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,366 |
| Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 89 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,318 |
| Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,318 |
| Shasta CollegeRedding, CA | Community college | Certificate | 29 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,199 |
| Shasta CollegeRedding, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,199 |
| Sierra CollegeRocklin, CA | Community college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,448 |
| Sierra CollegeRocklin, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,448 |
| Solano Community CollegeFairfield, CA | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,172 |
| Solano Community CollegeFairfield, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,172 |
| Taft CollegeTaft, CA | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,108 |
| Tri-Community Adult EducationCovina, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 55 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Universal Technical Institute of Northern California IncSacramento, CA | For-profit 2-year college | Certificate | 55 | n/a | n/a | $6,855 | n/a |
| Ventura CollegeVentura, CA | Community college | Certificate | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,416 |
| Ventura CollegeVentura, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,416 |
| Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 46 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,449 |
| Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,449 |
| Yuba CollegeMarysville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Yuba CollegeMarysville, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
Cities with the most programs: Sacramento (4), Rancho Cucamonga (2), Long Beach (2), San Bernardino (2), Visalia (2), San Diego (2), Santa Ana (1), Oroville (1), Merced (1), Clovis (1), Colton (1), El Centro (1).
What counts: precision metal working: welding, machining, CNC and sheet metal.
Frequently asked questions
How many welding schools are in California?
80 schools in California awarded welding certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 79 certificate and 53 associate programs.
Which welding program in California has the highest earnings?
Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, where certificate graduates earned a median of $55,962 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest welding school in California?
By yearly tuition and fees, Barstow Community College in Barstow charges $1,104 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do welding graduates make in California?
The typical certificate program in California reported median earnings of $42,974 one year after graduation and $47,614 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in California: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Welding schools nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.