RetrainMap / Training costs by state / Minnesota / Welding
Free · the federal list, by published cost · Minnesota
Welding programs in Minnesota on the federal training list, by published cost
67 programs in Minnesota’s Training Provider Results index carry one of the occupation codes for Welding (51-4121, 51-4122). Published costs run from $1,631 to $55,778; 0 programs report no cost and sit at the end. Sorted by the cost each provider reported — “cheapest” here means the lowest published figure on the federal list on the snapshot date, not a verdict on quality, and never a price you are promised. Snapshot taken 2026-09-02.
| # | Published cost basis | Program (provider’s page) · credential · code | Provider · city | Length | Exited | Completed | Employed Q2 after exit | Median earnings, Q2 (one quarter) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,631 | Welding Process Technology GTAW | Northland Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 9 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 2 | $1,812 | Welding Process Technology GMAW | Northland Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 10 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 3 | $2,150 | Welding | Minnesota North College | 30 wk · 12 hrs | 27 | 100% | 85% | $11,278 |
| 4 | $2,174 | Welding Process Technology SMAW | Northland Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 12 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 5 | $2,753 | GMAW Production Welder (MIG) | Hennepin Technical College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 226 | 33% | 80% | $9,931 |
| 6 | $2,753 | GTAW Production Welder (TIG) | Hennepin Technical College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 226 | 33% | 80% | $9,931 |
| 7 | $2,795 | Robotic Welding | Central Lakes College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 151 | 74% | 71% | $8,276 |
| 8 | $2,820 | Entry Level Welder | Ridgewater College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 150 | 81% | 83% | $10,311 |
| 9 | $2,832 | Welding Fabrication | South Central College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 175 | 76% | 81% | $8,382 |
| 10 | $2,832 | Welding | South Central College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 175 | 76% | 81% | $8,382 |
| 11 | $2,832 | Advanced Welding | South Central College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 175 | 76% | 81% | $8,382 |
| 12 | $2,868 | Welding Technology | Rochester Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 131 | 61% | 70% | $7,787 |
| 13 | $2,878 | Welding | Riverland Community College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 85 | 94% | 88% | $13,543 |
| 14 | $2,896 | Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Production Welder | Lake Superior College | 30 wk · 18 hrs | 152 | 59% | 66% | $9,460 |
| 15 | $2,924 | Industrial Technology Welding Specialist | Minnesota State College Southeast | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 85 | 72% | 62% | $9,853 |
| 16 | $3,004 | Robotic Welding | Saint Paul College | 30 wk · 17 hrs | 166 | 73% | 75% | $9,329 |
| 17 | $3,014 | Welding | Minnesota West Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 16 hrs | 169 | 78% | 73% | $7,042 |
| 18 | $3,080 | Welding Process Technology | Northland Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 17 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 19 | $3,080 | Welding Manufacturing Technology | Northland Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 17 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 20 | $3,117 | Pipe Welder | Anoka Technical College | 30 wk · 17 hrs | 327 | 79% | 89% | $7,424 |
| 21 | $3,117 | Welding Fabricator | Anoka Technical College | 30 wk · 17 hrs | 327 | 79% | 89% | $7,424 |
| 22 | $3,117 | Basic Welding | Anoka Technical College | 30 wk · 17 hrs | 327 | 79% | 89% | $7,424 |
| 23 | $3,269 | Robotic Arc Welding | Hennepin Technical College | 30 wk · 19 hrs | 226 | 33% | 80% | $9,931 |
| 24 | $3,300 | Robotic and Laser Welding | Anoka Technical College | 30 wk · 18 hrs | 22 | 91% | 91% | $10,120 |
| 25 | $3,473 | Welding Technology | Minnesota State College Southeast | 30 wk · 19 hrs | 85 | 72% | 62% | $9,853 |
| 26 | $3,785 | Structural Iron Fabrication and Repair | Hennepin Technical College | 30 wk · 22 hrs | 226 | 33% | 80% | $9,931 |
| 27 | $3,861 | Integrated Manufacturing Technology-Welding | Lake Superior College | 30 wk · 24 hrs | 152 | 59% | 66% | $9,460 |
| 28 | $4,232 | Basic Welding | Century College | 30 wk · 24 hrs | 112 | 69% | 75% | $8,736 |
| 29 | $4,578 | Welding and Metal Fabrication | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | 30 wk · 27 hrs | 92 | 40% | 77% | $7,170 |
| 30 | $4,732 | Welding Technology | Pine Technical and Community College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 85 | 26% | 72% | $8,691 |
| 31 | $4,827 | Welding Technology | Lake Superior College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 152 | 59% | 66% | $9,460 |
| 32 | $4,910 | Welding Technology | St. Cloud Technical & Community College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 174 | 63% | 84% | $9,766 |
| 33 | $4,916 | Welding Technology | Central Lakes College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 151 | 74% | 71% | $8,276 |
| 34 | $4,996 | Welding Technology | Saint Paul College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 166 | 73% | 75% | $9,329 |
| 35 | $5,086 | Welding Technology | Riverland Community College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 85 | 94% | 88% | $13,543 |
| 36 | $5,099 | Welding Technology | Northland Community and Technical College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 37 | $5,148 | Welding Technologist | Lake Superior College | 60 wk · 32 hrs | 152 | 59% | 66% | $9,460 |
| 38 | $5,345 | Welding Technology | Northwest Technical College | 60 wk · 30 hrs | 14 | 50% | 64% | $6,770 |
| 39 | $5,551 | Welding Technology | Pine Technical and Community College | 60 wk · 33 hrs | 85 | 26% | 72% | $8,691 |
| 40 | $5,617 | Welding Manufacturing Technology | Northland Community and Technical College | 60 wk · 31 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 41 | $5,640 | Welding | Ridgewater College | 60 wk · 32 hrs | 150 | 81% | 83% | $10,311 |
| 42 | $5,756 | Welding | Riverland Community College | 60 wk · 32 hrs | 85 | 94% | 88% | $13,543 |
| 43 | $5,841 | Welding and Machining Technology | South Central College | 60 wk · 33 hrs | 175 | 76% | 81% | $8,382 |
| 44 | $5,911 | Entry Level Welding | Minnesota North College | 60 wk · 33 hrs | 27 | 100% | 85% | $11,278 |
| 45 | $6,027 | Welding | Minnesota West Community and Technical College | 60 wk · 32 hrs | 169 | 78% | 73% | $7,042 |
| 46 | $6,160 | Welding Process Technology | Northland Community and Technical College | 60 wk · 34 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 47 | $6,215 | Welding Technology | Minnesota State College Southeast | 60 wk · 34 hrs | 85 | 72% | 62% | $9,853 |
| 48 | $6,233 | Welding Technology | Anoka Technical College | 60 wk · 34 hrs | 327 | 79% | 89% | $7,424 |
| 49 | $6,424 | Welding/Fabrication | St. Cloud Technical & Community College | 60 wk · 37 hrs | 174 | 63% | 84% | $9,766 |
| 50 | $6,522 | Welding Technology | Northland Community and Technical College | 60 wk · 36 hrs | 86 | 64% | 37% | $8,202 |
| 51 | $6,678 | Welding Technology | Dakota County Technical College | 60 wk · 36 hrs | 306 | 90% | 87% | $11,925 |
| 52 | $7,630 | Welding and Metal Fabrication | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | 60 wk · 45 hrs | 92 | 40% | 77% | $7,170 |
| 53 | $7,763 | Welding Technology | Alexandria Technical and Community College | 60 wk · 44 hrs | 151 | 78% | 83% | $10,310 |
| 54 | $7,861 | Welding and Fabrication | Central Lakes College | 60 wk · 45 hrs | 151 | 74% | 71% | $8,276 |
| 55 | $8,481 | Welding Technology | Saint Paul College | 60 wk · 48 hrs | 166 | 73% | 75% | $9,329 |
| 56 | $9,462 | Welding | Hennepin Technical College | 60 wk · 50 hrs | 226 | 33% | 80% | $9,931 |
| 57 | $9,653 | Welding | Lake Superior College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 45 | 31% | 64% | $7,306 |
| 58 | $10,173 | Welding and Metal Fabrication | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 98 | 32% | 66% | $7,719 |
| 59 | $10,458 | Integrated Manufacturing Technology - Welding | Lake Superior College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 152 | 59% | 66% | $9,460 |
| 60 | $10,481 | Welding and Fabrication | Central Lakes College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 45 | 60% | 76% | $7,920 |
| 61 | $11,280 | Industrial Welding | Ridgewater College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 150 | 81% | 83% | $10,311 |
| 62 | $11,643 | Advanced Welding | Minnesota North College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 27 | 100% | 85% | $11,278 |
| 63 | $12,100 | Welding | Anoka Technical College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 112 | 31% | 85% | $9,202 |
| 64 | $12,283 | Robotic and Laser Welding | Anoka Technical College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 112 | 31% | 85% | $9,202 |
| 65 | $12,690 | Industrial Welding | Ridgewater College | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 28 | 32% | 89% | $8,054 |
| 66 | $25,568 | Welding Technology | Dunwoody College of Technology | 60 wk · 32 hrs | 115 | 77% | 81% | $9,391 |
| 67 | $55,778 | Welding & Metal Fabrication | Dunwoody College of Technology | 120 wk · 50 hrs | 119 | 49% | 71% | $10,803 |
Source and date: U.S. Department of Labor, Training Provider Results — the open program index behind trainingproviderresults.gov, snapshot taken 2026-09-02 (3,787 programs for Minnesota in the index that day); the site states the data cover programs approved as of June 30, 2025 and outcomes for July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2025. Cost is Out-of-Pocket Cost for a Non-WIOA Participant: Tuition and Requested Fees (DE111) where the provider reported it, otherwise Average number of dollars the training program received from each WIOA participant Individual Training Account (ITA) during the time period (DE138/DE135) — the basis is printed under each figure; books and supplies are added only when reported separately. “Completed” = Percent of All Students who completed the program (DE122/DE121); “Employed Q2” = Percent of All Students Exiters who were employed in the 2nd Quarter after Exit (DE123/DE129); “Median earnings” = Median Earnings in the 2nd Quarter after Exit of All Students that are Employed in the 2nd Quarter after Exit (DE125) — one calendar quarter, not a year. A dash means the federal file prints −1: Values displayed as "-1" indicate data that have been suppressed to protect confidentiality. Your local job center decides eligibility — this shows what is on the list and what it cost and produced, not whether you will be approved.
The list is free. The ranking by what each program produced is $39.
This page sorts welding programs in Minnesota by the cost their providers published. The Retraining ROI report takes one target occupation and one state, ranks every listed program by the employment its completers reported, and — if you give your current pay — prints a payback estimate per program with its basis. Built on order from the same federal record; free sample on that page.
The $39 ROI report Free funding finder The $19 Directions plan
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