4 schools · South Dakota
Welding schools in South Dakota
4 schools in South Dakota offer welding programs (4 of them public), with 4 certificate and 3 associate programs between them.
All welding programs in South Dakota
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 34 | $52,506 | $51,201 | $11,000 | $7,622 |
| Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 14 | $43,004 | $51,988 | $14,911 | $8,526 |
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD | Community college | Certificate | 30 | n/a | $49,693 | $5,500 | $7,622 |
| Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD | Community college | Certificate | 18 | n/a | $48,803 | n/a | $8,526 |
| Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls, SD | Community college | Certificate | 45 | n/a | $46,490 | n/a | $8,365 |
| Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell, SD | Community college | Certificate | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,854 |
| Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,854 |
Cities with the most programs: Watertown (1), Rapid City (1), Sioux Falls (1), Mitchell (1).
What counts: precision metal working: welding, machining, CNC and sheet metal.
Frequently asked questions
How many welding schools are in South Dakota?
4 schools in South Dakota awarded welding certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 4 certificate and 3 associate programs.
Which welding program in South Dakota has the highest earnings?
Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, where associate degree graduates earned a median of $52,506 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest welding school in South Dakota?
By yearly tuition and fees, Lake Area Technical College in Watertown charges $7,622 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
More in South Dakota: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: HVAC · Electrician · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · 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
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.