An eight-week certificate gets you into a shop faster, but a two-year associate degree can lead to higher-paying structural and pipe work; that tradeoff sits at the center of nearly every Mississippi welding school decision. The state's industrial base, Gulf Coast shipyards, refineries, and manufacturing plants around Gulfport, Pascagoula, and Jackson keep demand steady, with roughly 6,460 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers already working statewide.
Fifteen accredited programs are ranked here, spanning community colleges and technical institutes with tuition, schedule, and credential paths that differ more than most prospective students expect.
Program length, certification track, and campus location will matter more to your outcome than brand name alone, even if your goal is starting a welding business.
Top-Ranked Welding Schools in Mississippi
Mississippi's welding schools range from eight-week NCCER-focused programs to two-year associate degrees, with multiple campus locations across the state. The list below highlights each school's program length, credential options, and strongest fit for different student situations.
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Institution-wide completion rates
- Employer-aligned curriculum
- Multiple campus locations
- Independent program research
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) — nces.ed.gov
- BEA state price parities, used to adjust tuition — bea.gov
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Program-level records maintained in house
Northeast Mississippi Community College
#1Booneville, MS · $4,000 – $8,000/yr
Best for: Adults seeking low-cost entry into welding
Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville offers an 8-week Structural Welding program with a total tuition of $800, making it one of the quickest and most affordable entry points in the state. Students train in GMAW, SMAW, and FCAW and prepare for NCCER Core, Level 1, OSHA-10, and Smart Start credentials. The college also routes welding through adult education career pathways and maintains workforce connections across Alcorn, Prentiss, Union, and Tippah counties.
- 8-week Structural Welding completion
- $800 total tuition before financial aid
- Training in GMAW, SMAW, and FCAW
- NCCER Core and Level 1 credential prep
- OSHA-10 and Smart Start certifications included
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
#2Wesson, MS · $4,000 – $5,000/yr
Best for: Shipbuilding and pipe welding career seekers
Copiah-Lincoln Community College runs its welding program from Wesson, Natchez, and the Simpson County Center, giving central and southwest Mississippi residents multiple access points. The curriculum includes SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, oxyacetylene, pipe welding, plasma arc cutting, and X-ray welding for shipbuilding. Students can stop after Certificate Level I or continue through Certificate Level II, with custom industrial training available through the workforce division.
- Certificate Level I and Level II exit points
- Wesson, Natchez, and Simpson County locations
- Pipe welding and plasma arc cutting
- X-ray welding for shipbuilding
- Median loan debt of $2,430
Itawamba Community College
#3Fulton, MS · $3,000 – $6,000/yr
Best for: Placement-focused one-year certificate seekers
Itawamba Community College in Fulton offers a one-year Welding and Cutting Technology certificate through the Belden Center, with access from Fulton, Tupelo, and Belden. The program reports a 95 to 100 percent job placement rate and starting pay in the $25,000 to $30,000 range. Training covers SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, pipe welding, and welding inspection, with optional AWS certification.
- One-year certificate path
- 95 to 100 percent job placement reported
- Optional AWS certification
- Training in SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and pipe welding
- Starting pay around $25,000 to $30,000 per year
East Mississippi Community College
#4Scooba, MS · $4,000 – $7,000/yr
East Mississippi Community College offers Welding Technology at Scooba and the Golden Triangle Campus, with noncredit industrial welding also available at West Point laboratories. Students can choose a two-semester technical certificate or a four-semester Associate of Applied Science degree. The program is aligned with AWS SENSE and NCCER standards, and students can earn NCCER Core and Welding Level 1 and 2 credentials.
- Two-semester technical certificate or four-semester AAS
- AWS SENSE and NCCER-aligned instruction
- Training in SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW
- NCCER Core, Welding Level 1 and 2 credentials available
- Scooba and Golden Triangle campus options
Northwest Mississippi Community College
#5Senatobia, MS · $8,000/yr
Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia offers a two-semester, 30-credit Welding and Cutting career certificate with day and evening sections in Senatobia and daytime instruction in Batesville. Students train in SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, plasma arc cutting, carbon arc cutting, and oxyfuel cutting. A recent Appalachian Regional Commission grant supported a robotics lab and pipe welding coursework, making it one of the more modernized welding programs in the state. The program prepares students for AWS Entry Level I certification.
- Two-semester, 30-credit career certificate
- Fall start only
- Senatobia and Batesville campuses
- SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW process training
- AWS Entry Level I certification prep
- Five-panel drug screen required to enter
- Required tool list purchase
Hinds Community College
#6Raymond, MS · $4,000/yr (net price)
Hinds Community College offers Welding and Cutting Technology at five locations: Jackson, Rankin, Raymond, Utica, and Vicksburg. Credential options include a 30-hour Career Certificate, a 45 to 46-hour Technical Certificate, and an Associate of Applied Science degree. Select courses are available online, and the college has added evening learning circles with free childcare and tutoring on the Jackson Campus. The curriculum covers SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, pipe welding, metallurgy, welding inspection, and destructive and non-destructive testing.
- Career Certificate (30 credits) and Technical Certificate (45-46 credits) options
- Associate of Applied Science available
- Jackson, Rankin, Raymond, Utica, and Vicksburg locations
- Select courses available online
- Metallurgy, welding inspection, and NDT training
- SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, and pipe welding
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
#7Perkinston, MS · ~$7,000/yr (est.)
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offers Welding Technology at the Perkinston campus with connections to Gulf Coast shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing. The credit program includes a 30-credit Welding Certificate and a follow-on 15-credit Welding Diploma that adds advanced pipe welding and welding code coursework. Students train in SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, and plasma arc cutting, and the program aligns with AWS entry-level welder standards. A separate 15-week workforce welding program offers a shorter noncredit route in the region.
- 30-credit welding certificate; diploma adds advanced pipe coursework
- SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, PAC training
- Aligned with AWS entry-level welder standards
- Separate 15-week workforce welding program available
Southwest Mississippi Community College
#8Summit, MS · under $5,000/yr
Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit offers a one-year Welding and Cutting Certificate that leads to a Technical Certificate, with an academic pathway toward an Associate of Applied Science. The curriculum covers SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, plasma arc cutting, carbon arc cutting, and oxyfuel cutting. Students prepare for NCCER Core and Level 1 and 2, or AWS Sense Level 1 credentials. A separate workforce structural-fitting cohort at Summit and Woodville limits enrollment to eight students and completes in less than six months.
- One-year certificate path
- NCCER Core and Level 1 and 2 prep
- AWS Sense Level 1 prep
- Financial aid and scholarships available
- ACT 16 or ACCUPLACER accepted
- $15 AWS certification fee and $600 tools cost
Meridian Community College
#9Meridian, MS · $4,000 – $6,000/yr
Meridian Community College offers Welding and Cutting Technology from the MCC-Riley Workforce Development Center in Meridian. Students can pursue a 30-hour technical certificate, a 45-hour career certificate, or a two-year associate degree. The program includes advanced NCCER and OSHA certifications and requires an ACT score of 16 or equivalent for admission. A separate 40-hour basic welding workforce course is available for $375 for adults who need foundational skills without a full certificate.
- 30-hour technical certificate or 45-hour career certificate
- Advanced NCCER and OSHA certifications
- ACT 16 or equivalent for admission
- 2.00 overall GPA and C or higher in WLT courses
- Arc welding, oxyacetylene, plasma cutting, and blueprint reading
Jones County Junior College
#10Ellisville, MS · $6,000/yr (net price)
Jones College in Ellisville offers welding at the main campus and at centers in Jasper, Clarke, and Greene counties. Students can earn a two-semester Career Certificate, a three-semester Technical Certificate, or a four-semester Associate of Applied Science degree. The program includes MIG aluminum and TIG stainless welding, pipe welding, metallurgy, and welding codes, with day and night class options. ACT or SAT scores are required for admission.
- Career, Technical, and AAS credential tracks
- Two to four semesters depending credential
- MIG aluminum and TIG stainless welding
- Blueprint reading, welding symbols, and metallurgy
- ACT or SAT scores required for admission
Comparing Program Costs and Financial Aid
Published tuition and fees are only part of the equation. The table below is sorted by each school's average net price after grant or scholarship aid, which is an institution-wide average across all students, not a welding-specific figure. For veterans, Arclabs confirms its welding programs accept GI Bill and VR&E benefits in 2026-2027; for the public community colleges listed below, check VA approval records by specific welding program before assuming eligibility. WIOA funding and free-tuition programs for Mississippi welding students were not confirmed in the available 2026-2027 research.
| School | In-State Tuition and Fees | Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | Average Net Price After Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Mississippi Community College | $4,080 | $6,780 | $2,525 |
| Mississippi Delta Community College | $3,540 | $3,540 | $3,715 |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College | $4,000 | $5,000 | $3,894 |
| Hinds Community College | $4,250 | $7,300 | $4,060 |
| East Mississippi Community College | $4,095 | $7,445 | $4,608 |
| Itawamba Community College | $3,420 | $5,820 | $4,616 |
| East Central Community College | $4,160 | $6,260 | $5,240 |
| Holmes Community College | $3,710 | $6,610 | $5,643 |
| Jones County Junior College | $4,806 | $6,806 | $6,048 |
| Meridian Community College | $4,078 | $6,478 | $6,351 |
| Pearl River Community College | $3,700 | $6,100 | $6,532 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | $4,250 | $7,850 | $6,962 |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College | $3,740 | $3,740 | $7,911 |
| Northeast Mississippi Community College | $4,470 | $7,710 | $8,343 |
Campus Vs. Online Welding Programs in Mississippi
Welding is a hands-on trade, and Mississippi's welding programs reflect that reality: every one of the 15 ranked schools, from Northeast Mississippi Community College to Mississippi Delta Community College, delivers training primarily on campus.
Why Lab Time Drives the Format
Certification bodies like AWS and NCCER require documented hours running a torch or striking an arc under supervision. The different welding processes, GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, and GTAW, cannot be verified through video lectures. That's why schools like Itawamba, Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Jones County Junior College build their entire welding technology tracks around in-person shop time, even when they also teach blueprint reading, metallurgy, and welding theory in a classroom setting.
Where Hybrid Options Exist
Hinds Community College stands out as the one program in this lineup that explicitly offers select courses online, likely covering theory, safety, and print reading, while keeping welding labs face-to-face. This is the closest thing to a hybrid model among Mississippi's welding schools, and it illustrates the ceiling for flexibility in this field: coursework can move online, but the torch work cannot.
Trade-offs to Weigh
- Flexibility: Fully campus-based programs mean fixed daytime schedules, which can be tough for working adults or parents.
- Cost: In-district tuition stays low regardless of format, often under $5,000, so online savings are minimal here.
- Lab access: Campus programs guarantee booth time and equipment; without it, certification prep suffers.
Fully online welding programs remain rare nationwide, and Mississippi is no exception. Anyone searching for a purely remote path should treat that claim skeptically.
How Does Welding Training Delivery Compare in Mississippi?
The 15 ranked Mississippi welding programs in this guide all list campus-based delivery. Current program data does not identify any fully online welding programs, and no ranked school is classified as online/hybrid in the underlying listing.
Welding Specializations: Pipe, Structural, TIG, MIG, and More
Delta Technical College in Horn Lake is the only ranked Mississippi welding program with confirmed pipe-related welding and pipefitting instruction, including GTAW (TIG), GMAW (MIG), SMAW (stick), FCAW, carbon arc cutting, and a Welding & Pipefitting focus.
Across the ranked list, published directory information points to broad TIG, MIG, and stick coverage, but campus-level advanced pipe training is not confirmed everywhere. The process details below reflect what is publicly verifiable for nine of the ranked programs; the remaining campuses do not publish process-by-process curriculum in current materials.
Core Process Coverage by Campus
- Northwest Mississippi Community College, East Mississippi Community College, Hinds Community College, Pearl River Community College, Southwest Mississippi Community College, Mississippi Delta Community College, and Meridian Community College: TIG, MIG, and stick are listed; pipe-specific advanced tracks are not confirmed.
- Jones College: TIG, MIG, and stick are listed. Its welding program references pipe welding with blueprint reading and certification, but it does not clearly market a separate advanced pipe track.
- Delta Technical College: TIG, MIG, stick, FCAW, carbon arc cutting, and pipe welding/pipefitting are listed.
In practice, SMAW (stick) is the workhorse for outdoor structural and field work; GMAW (MIG Welding) is faster for shop fabrication; GTAW (TIG Welding) is the precision process for thin materials and pipe root passes. Schools that cover all three give you a broad entry into the trade.
Where Pipe Welding Matters
Mississippi's Gulf Coast shipbuilding and refinery corridor, home to many shipyard welding jobs in Mississippi, rewards welders who can pass pipe certification tests. Structural work relies heavily on stick and flux-cored processes, so a program that pairs stick certification with GTAW training gives you both plate and pipe options. A dedicated Welding & Pipefitting focus, like the one at Delta Technical College's Horn Lake campus, aligns directly with those employers. For campuses without a standalone pipe welding track, a strong TIG and stick foundation can still prepare you to test for pipe certifications on the job, but you may need an employer-sponsored upgrade.
How to Use This When Comparing Schools
Ask each campus whether GTAW training is delivered on pipe, not just plate. Check whether the program prepares you for AWS or ASME 6G Pipe Welding certification tests. A broad TIG/MIG/stick foundation is common; pipe welding depth is the real differentiator if you are aiming for refinery or shipyard work.
Admissions Requirements, Deadlines, and Waitlist Status
Most Mississippi welding programs share a common entry point: a high school diploma or GED, and in some cases a placement or admissions test. Beyond that, requirements diverge quite a bit by campus, so treat the details below as a starting point rather than a guarantee for the 2026-2027 cycle.
Typical Baseline Requirements
East Central Community College requires an ACT composite score of 14 or higher for general admission, along with a diploma or approved equivalency. Southwest Mississippi Community College asks for a completed application and a 2.0 GPA on your high school transcript, with a March 1 deadline for fall entry. East Mississippi Community College keeps things simple: a free application that takes about 15 minutes, with no test scores required, and a January 11 deadline for spring 2027 enrollment.
Deadlines and Seat Availability Vary Widely
Northwest Mississippi Community College admits welding students for fall entry only, with applications open from October through March. Because the program has limited capacity, applicants who aren't offered a seat outright may land on an alternate list, so early application matters if you want to avoid waiting for a spot to open up. Holmes Community College lists a September 15 deadline for its 2026-2027 catalog year, though this applies broadly and welding-specific timing should be confirmed directly with the admissions office.
Open Enrollment vs. Limited-Seat Programs
East Mississippi's low-barrier, no-test application suggests a more open enrollment approach compared to Northwest Mississippi's competitive, alternate-list structure. Other ranked schools, including Delta Technical College, Hinds, Pearl River, Mississippi Delta, Jones, and Meridian, don't have clearly published welding-specific deadlines or waitlist data at this time.
Confirm Details Before You Apply
Because admissions policies, seat counts, and waitlist status can shift from term to term, and because minimum age requirements aren't uniformly published, your best move is to call the welding department directly. Ask about current seat availability, whether a waitlist exists for your target term, and any placement testing you'll need to schedule ahead of enrollment.
Salary Insight: What Welders Earn in Mississippi
Welders in Mississippi earn a median annual wage of $51,100.
How to Choose a Welding School in Mississippi
The right welding school is the one that matches your schedule, your budget, and the exact types of welding you plan to build a career on. Chasing a big name over program fit wastes both time and tuition money.
Weigh the Practical Constraints First
Start with the factors that decide whether you can actually finish the program:
- Schedule: Confirm whether classes run day, evening, or in flexible blocks so training fits around work or family.
- Location: A shorter commute (say, a Gulfport or Jackson campus close to home) means more consistent lab time and lower fuel costs.
- Cost: Compare total price, not just the sticker figure, using the tuition and financial aid table above.
- Program length: A quick certificate gets you working sooner; a longer diploma or degree may open more supervisory doors.
Match the Training to Your Goals
Program fit matters more than prestige. If you want to run pipe on industrial jobs, prioritize schools with strong pipe and TIG instruction and clear paths toward the certifications employers ask for. Structural shops and those built around MIG welding equipment call for a different emphasis. Confirm the school teaches the process you intend to certify in before you enroll.
Do the Math, Then Visit
Put cost next to the graduate earnings figures shown earlier to gauge return on investment. A program that costs more but leads to higher-paying pipe or specialty work can pay for itself quickly.
Before committing, tour the campus. Look at the welding booths and equipment, ask how many students share each machine, and talk with instructors about their field experience. What you see in the lab tells you more than any brochure.
Mississippi employs roughly 6,460 welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, earning a median annual wage of about $51,100 in 2025, according to Jackson, MS welder salary data compiled by Orbyt Labs, proof that certified welding skills pay off well above many entry-level trades statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you enroll, get clear answers on cost, length, and credentials. Here are the questions Mississippi students ask most often, with current 2026 information where available.
- How much does welding school cost in Mississippi?
- Tuition varies widely. Directory estimates put average Mississippi trade-school tuition near $7,583, with welding programs ranging from $0 to $24,226. Per-credit costs range from about $165 to $265 depending on school and program. A few programs advertise $0 tuition but may still charge lab or materials fees, so compare total costs rather than tuition alone.
- How long is the Hinds Community College welding program?
- Hinds Community College's Welding and Cutting Technology program does not list a single calendar length. The Associate of Applied Science requires about 60 to 63 credit hours, the career certificate about 30, and the technical certificate about 45 to 46. Actual time depends on full-time or part-time enrollment, prerequisites, and scheduling, so check with the college for a personalized timeline.
- Which Mississippi colleges offer welding certifications?
- Multiple Mississippi community colleges offer welding programs that lead to certificates or credentials. These include Hinds, Southwest Mississippi, Copiah-Lincoln, East Mississippi, Holmes, Pearl River, Meridian, East Central, Jones County Junior College, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Coahoma. Some award college certificates; others prepare students for industry credentials such as AWS or NCCER, so verify which credential each program targets.
- Are there free welding schools in Mississippi?
- A few options are free or low-cost for eligible students. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's 15-week Workforce Welding Program has no college tuition or college-related fees for participants. Southwest Mississippi Community College advertises $0 tuition and fees for four semesters but charges a $100 vocational lab fee each semester. Finch-Henry Job Corps Center in Batesville offers free training for eligible young adults, though eligibility and capacity vary.
- What welding processes are taught in Mississippi schools?
- Commonly taught welding processes in Mississippi programs include shielded metal arc welding (SMAW or stick), gas metal arc welding (GMAW or MIG), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW or TIG). Many also teach oxy-fuel cutting, plasma arc cutting, air carbon arc cutting, plus pipe and structural welding. Curricula vary by school, so confirm process coverage before enrolling.