The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 10,300 new welding jobs through 2035. For career changers, the practical filter is whether a program produces welders who can pass certification tests on the first attempt. Midwest Technical Institute frames its training around that standard, with compressed, booth-heavy instruction at its Illinois and Missouri campuses.
MTI runs seven months for welding and ten for welding with pipefitting, with day and evening schedules that fit working adults. Programs span certificate, diploma, and associate degree options.
Published total costs are $25,900 and $24,226. The tradeoff is time versus money: shorter training reduces lost income, but the tuition still requires a financing plan before enrolling.
Welding Programs at Midwest Technical Institute: Certificate, Diploma, and Associate Degree Options
Midwest Technical Institute gives welding students more than one entry point, with certificate, diploma, and associate degree tracks built around the same core hands-on arc training found at many welding trade schools. Rather than a single generalized welding course, MTI structures its welding training into stacked options so students can enter at the credential level that matches their timeline and career goal.
Certificate and Diploma Tracks
The certificate track is the fastest route into the welding booth, focused on common welding processes such as stick, MIG, flux-cored, and TIG welding along with safety, blueprint reading, and metal preparation. The diploma track adds more supervised lab time and broader weld procedure coverage, giving students additional practice before entering the field. MTI's official program pages present these as distinct paths, with the diploma often appealing to students who want more instructor feedback and a more complete skill set before their first welding job.
Associate Degree Option
At campuses where the associate degree is offered, the program layers general education and advanced welding coursework on top of the practical training found in the certificate and diploma. This option is designed for students who may want broader career flexibility, transferable college credit, or a pathway toward supervision and inspection roles later in their welding career.
On-Campus Format and Pipefitting Emphasis
All MTI welding training is delivered on campus because consistent booth time and live arc practice cannot be replicated online. Alongside general welding, MTI also promotes a pipefitting program for students who want to specialize in pipe welding, fitting, and layout work. Students should check the specific campus listing, because not every welding track is offered at every MTI location.
7-Month Welding vs. 10-Month Pipefitting: Program Lengths, Schedules, and Class Formats
Midwest Technical Institute offers two accelerated welding-related training paths. The 7-month welding program focuses on core welding skills, and the 10-month welding and pipefitting program adds pipefitter training. Both programs provide daytime and evening class schedules at MTI campuses.
| Program Feature | 7-Month Welding Program | 10-Month Welding & Pipefitting Program |
|---|---|---|
| Array | ||
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Midwest Technical Institute Welding Tuition and Total Cost Breakdown
MTI lists total program costs of $25,900 for the 7-month Welding program and $24,226 for the 10-month Welding and Pipefitting program. The donut below itemizes the welding program's published costs; the pipefitting track includes $20,281 tuition, a $100 registration fee, $355 books, $3,240 supplies, and $250 gear.
Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Payment Plans at MTI
For most MTI welding students, the central decision is not whether to train but how to time the cost: borrow now and start sooner, or wait and risk losing income momentum. MTI's welding school financial aid process is built around helping qualified students start on schedule, with federal aid, scholarships, and veteran benefits doing most of the heavy lifting.
Federal Aid Starts With the FAFSA
Students who qualify can access the same core federal programs available at traditional colleges. That includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and the Federal Direct PLUS Loan for parents of dependent students. There is no application deadline because MTI uses rolling admissions, but the school advises completing the FAFSA before classes begin and adding MTI's school code if you have already filed.
Scholarships for Welding Students
MTI lists both external and school-specific awards. Welding and Welding & Pipefitting students may apply for the American Welding Society Welder Training Scholarship, the Mike Rowe Works Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship Program, the American Trucks Student Scholarship, and the TC Energy Trades Scholarship. The AWS award is limited to certificate programs under two years. Internal options include the MTI/Delta Technical College High School Scholarship for graduating seniors who qualify and a $2,000 Alumni Scholarship for eligible MTI graduates continuing in welding.
MTI's 2026 high school competition awarded $305,000 total to 92 seniors across its four Illinois and Missouri campuses, with all participants receiving a $500 MTI scholarship.
Veteran Benefits and Campus Support
Qualifying current and former military students may use Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill benefits in eligible programs, including Welding, HVAC/R, Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, and Truck Driving. MTI does not publish a standalone monthly payment plan for welding students; financing support generally runs through financial aid packaging and outside scholarships, with campus financial aid reps helping complete paperwork.
How to Apply
Start by completing the FAFSA and adding MTI's school code. Then contact the campus admissions or financial aid team to confirm which documents are needed, typically tax and income records, identification, and any military service documents if using VA benefits. The school recommends finishing aid steps before the start date, even with rolling admissions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2% job growth for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers from 2025 to 2035, adding roughly 10,300 jobs. All occupations are projected to grow 3% during the same period.
Accreditation, Approvals, and Welding Certifications at MTI
Accreditation is a school-level review that checks whether an institution meets standards for instruction, facilities, finances, and student services. Welding certification is a separate test of an individual welder's skill against an industry code or procedure. Both matter at Midwest Technical Institute, but they answer different questions. Knowing the difference helps you avoid assuming a nationally accredited program automatically gives you an AWS credential.
Institutional Accreditation and State Approvals
Midwest Technical Institute is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). MTI also states it is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in federal financial aid programs. In Illinois, the school operates with approval from the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. In Missouri, approval comes from the Missouri Department of Higher Education. The welding program page describes the training as nationally accredited through ACCSC and repeats those state approvals. State approval means the school may operate and enroll students in that state, but it is not the same as programmatic accreditation.
MTI's catalog says all MTI/DTC campuses have achieved stand-alone ACCSC accreditation, and an ACCSC public notice shows a renewal of accreditation effective February 2026 for the East Peoria, Illinois campus.1 The main website presents MTI as a single ACCSC-accredited institution without listing every campus's status in the materials reviewed.
Welding Certifications at MTI
The materials available for this profile do not show separate AWS institutional accreditation for MTI's welding program, and the welding program page does not mention AWS by name. MTI says its welding training is designed around industry certification, but the published pages do not clearly identify which welding certification types are earned on campus, who administers the exams, or whether AWS testing is offered on MTI campuses. It also does not state in the reviewed materials that MTI is an AWS Accredited Test Facility. Its website includes no list of welding pass rates in the sources reviewed.
Because this matters, ask the welding department directly about the credential path: which certifications students prepare for, whether exams are included in tuition or require separate fees, and what recent pass rates look like.
Programmatic Accreditations
Some MTI programs carry additional field-specific accreditation. Medical Assisting programs at Springfield, Illinois; Moline, Illinois; East Peoria, Illinois; and Springfield, Missouri are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The HVAC/R program at the Springfield, Illinois campus is accredited by HVAC Excellence.
Why the Distinction Matters
Institutional accreditation affects transfer credits, federal financial aid eligibility, and employer confidence in the program's structure. Welding certification affects whether you can pass a weld test for a specific code, such as AWS D1.1 structural steel or ASME pipe. Treat them as two different parts of your research, and verify certification details with MTI before enrolling.
Welding Career Outlook: National Salary and Job Growth
The table below shows national median annual wages and total employment for welding-related occupations based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data released in 2025. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are the primary occupation covered. Structural iron and steel workers are included because they use related welding skills on the job.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Total Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,770 | 425,490 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,320 | 71,720 |
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Midwest Technical Institute reports a 100% job placement rate for its Welding and Pipefitting program at the East Peoria, Illinois campus in 2024, according to MTI Welding Program Up and Running (Mitchell Tech). MTI also partners with local employers to provide externship sites, job placement assistance, and tuition assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions About MTI Welding
Below are answers to common questions about Midwest Technical Institute's welding programs, costs, and outcomes. Use these as a starting point, and confirm details with the campus you plan to attend because figures can vary by location.
- How much does Midwest Technical Institute welding school cost?
- The 2026 Missouri catalog lists total welding program cost at $18,297, including $16,024 tuition, $355 books, $1,568 metals, $250 gear, and a $100 application fee. It also lists $475 for certification dues. Costs may vary by campus or state, so confirm with your intended campus.
- How long is the welding program at Midwest Technical Institute?
- The welding program runs 7 months, or 30 weeks. The combined Welding & Pipefitting program runs 10 months, or 40 weeks, with 30 weeks of welding and 10 weeks of pipefitting, two examples of welding school duration at MTI.
- What welding certifications can I earn at Midwest Technical Institute?
- MTI trains students in SMAW, GTAW/TIG, GMAW/MIG, and FCAW welding processes. The catalog lists a $475 certification or dues fee, but it does not name the specific third-party credentials all welding graduates earn. Ask an admissions representative what certifications your campus offers.
- Does Midwest Technical Institute offer financial aid?
- Yes. MTI offers financial aid for qualifying students. You can apply by completing the FAFSA and talking with the financial aid office about grants, loans, and payment plans. Eligibility and amounts depend on your circumstances, enrollment status, and campus.
- What is the job placement rate for Midwest Technical Institute welding graduates?
- MTI advertises career counseling and placement assistance for all qualified graduates. MTI reports a 100% job placement rate for the Welding & Pipefitting program (2024); it does not publish a separate rate for the welding-only program. For the latest outcomes data, contact the career services office at your campus.
- Does Midwest Technical Institute have evening welding classes?
- Yes. MTI lists daytime and evening options for the Welding & Pipefitting program, and some campus pages note evening classes are available. Evening schedule, days, and hours can vary by location, so confirm details with your intended campus.