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Welding classes in South Dakota

12 welding programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

5 schools offer these welding programs, and South Dakota has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Welders join and cut metal parts with hand-held or remotely controlled equipment. Most have a high school diploma plus technical training, and some employers ask for a certification for particular jobs.1 In South Dakota, 1 of the 12 programs take students without a high school diploma, and 2 are taught partly or fully online.

See the 12 programs

How much do welding classes cost in South Dakota?

$1,364 to $8,885

is what most programs cost if you pay yourself

All 12 programs with a price: $496 to $18,876

Finished the program
79%
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
about $42,000
Length
16 to 34 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in South Dakota may also offer welding classes. How these figures are made

Are there free welding classes in South Dakota?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

Welding classes in Sioux Falls, Watertown, Rapid City and other South Dakota cities

Choosing an area filters the list below.

All 12 welding programs in South Dakota approved for funding

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12 programs

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding Technology | Diploma | Campus

    Lake Area Technical College, Watertown

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Lake Area Technical College, Watertown · General welding · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$45,000
    Price if you pay yourself$7,791
    Program website, Welding Technology | Diploma | Campus at Lake Area Technical College
    More details about Welding Technology | Diploma | Campus at Lake Area Technical College
    Finished
    78%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,255
    Length
    34 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    158
    a year, estimated
    $45,000
    price
    $7,791

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Advanced Welder Training | Campus

    Regional Technical Education Center Inc., Yankton

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Regional Technical Education Center Inc., Yankton · General welding · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$42,000
    Price if you pay yourself$3,990
    More details about Advanced Welder Training | Campus at Regional Technical Education Center Inc.
    Finished
    90%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,491
    Length
    6 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    127
    a year, estimated
    $42,000
    price
    $3,990

  • Welding (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding & Fabrication | AAS | Hybrid (66 credit hours)

    Western Dakota Technical College, Rapid City

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Western Dakota Technical College, Rapid City · Welding (associate degree) · Hybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$43,200
    Price if you pay yourself$18,876
    Program website, Welding & Fabrication | AAS | Hybrid (66 credit hours) at Western Dakota Technical College
    More details about Welding & Fabrication | AAS | Hybrid (66 credit hours) at Western Dakota Technical College
    Finished
    59%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,800
    Length
    64 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $6,854
    Students counted
    105
    a year, estimated
    $43,200
    price
    $18,876

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding | Diploma | In-person

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls · General welding · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$22,600
    Price if you pay yourself$8,415
    Program website, Welding | Diploma | In-person at Southeast Technical College
    More details about Welding | Diploma | In-person at Southeast Technical College
    Finished
    80%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,662
    Length
    32 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,940
    Students counted
    96
    a year, estimated
    $22,600
    price
    $8,415

  • Welding (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding Technology | AAS | Campus

    Lake Area Technical College, Watertown

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Lake Area Technical College, Watertown · Welding (associate degree) · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$49,200
    Price if you pay yourself$16,037
    Program website, Welding Technology | AAS | Campus at Lake Area Technical College
    More details about Welding Technology | AAS | Campus at Lake Area Technical College
    Finished
    92%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $12,293
    Length
    68 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    83
    a year, estimated
    $49,200
    price
    $16,037

  • Welding and fabricationHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding and Fabrication | Diploma | Hybrid (36 credit hours)

    Western Dakota Technical College, Rapid City

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Western Dakota Technical College, Rapid City · Welding and fabrication · Hybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$38,800
    Price if you pay yourself$10,296
    Program website, Welding and Fabrication | Diploma | Hybrid (36 credit hours) at Western Dakota Technical College
    More details about Welding and Fabrication | Diploma | Hybrid (36 credit hours) at Western Dakota Technical College
    Finished
    71%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,707
    Length
    32 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $5,306
    Students counted
    60
    a year, estimated
    $38,800
    price
    $10,296

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding | Certificate | Campus

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls · General welding · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$35,400
    Price if you pay yourself$496
    Program website, Welding | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    More details about Welding | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    Finished
    78%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,853
    Length
    16 weeks, 17 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    37
    a year, estimated
    $35,400
    price
    $496

  • Structural weldingIn personNo diploma needed

    Structural Welding Technologies | Certificate | In-person

    Great Plains Welding Academy, Rapid City

    No diploma needed

    Great Plains Welding Academy, Rapid City · Structural welding · In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$7,200
    More details about Structural Welding Technologies | Certificate | In-person at Great Plains Welding Academy
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $300
    Students counted
    14
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $7,200

  • Single welding processIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding // Gas Metal Arc | Certificate | Campus

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls · Single welding process · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$992
    Program website, Welding // Gas Metal Arc | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    More details about Welding // Gas Metal Arc | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    Not reported
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $992

  • Single welding processIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding // Shielded Metal Arc | Certificate | Campus

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls · Single welding process · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$992
    Program website, Welding // Shielded Metal Arc | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    More details about Welding // Shielded Metal Arc | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    Not reported
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $992

  • Single welding processIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding // Gas Tungsten Arc | Certificate | Campus

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls · Single welding process · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,488
    Program website, Welding // Gas Tungsten Arc | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    More details about Welding // Gas Tungsten Arc | Certificate | Campus at Southeast Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    Not reported
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $1,488

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding - UpSkill In-Person

    Lake Area Technical College, Watertown

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Lake Area Technical College, Watertown · General welding · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,960
    School website, Welding - UpSkill In-Person at Lake Area Technical College
    More details about Welding - UpSkill In-Person at Lake Area Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    36 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $300
    Students counted
    Not reported
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $3,960

How to pay for welding classes in South Dakota

Workforce funding can pay for welding classes in South Dakota

Every program on this page is approved for public workforce funding, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It can pay for training for eligible adults, people who lost their job and young people.2People on public assistance, with a low income or lacking basic skills come first, and veterans have priority.3

Ask at an American Job Center

Eligibility rules apply, and services vary from state to state. Your local American Job Center can tell you whether you qualify. The Department of Labor's page links to the center finder, or call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).4

Financial aid and grants for welding classes

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.56

GI Bill for welding classes

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.7

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Where the South Dakota welding program numbers come from

Which South Dakota welding programs are on this list?

These are the welding programs South Dakota approved for public workforce funding (the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). The list covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what South Dakota offers.

How South Dakota welding program prices are reported

The price is tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported it. Prices under $100 are treated as not reported, because the file holds many blanks entered as $0. Check the current price with the school.

What the graduate results of these programs measure

The figures at the top of this page are the middle program among those that report results: half did better, half did worse. Results describe students who left each program in recent years: the share who finished, the share working in the second quarter after leaving, and the middle earnings of those working in that quarter. States report earnings for that one quarter because they take them from the wage reports employers file every three months. The yearly figure here is that quarter times four, rounded to the nearest $100: an estimate, and an early one, since it is measured about half a year after training. The quarter as reported is under "More details" on each program. Results are withheld for small programs, and they describe past students, so they are no guarantee.

Why do some welding programs say "Not reported"?

Where a school or the state left a field empty, or the Department of Labor withheld it, the page says "Not reported". Nothing here is estimated to fill a gap.

Why the kind of school is left off each program

The file also records whether a school is public, private or nonprofit, but those entries are wrong too often to print next to a school's name, so this page leaves them out.

How reliable are the South Dakota figures?

We leave out the share working 6 months later for South Dakota: its rates sit far below every other state's.

Sources for the facts about welding classes in South Dakota

Show the 7 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  5. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  7. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs