2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate
17
Ranked Colleges
320
Degrees Awarded
$31,100
Avg Cost*
Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 42,490 people earned their degree in welding technology/welder, making the major the 215th most popular in the United States.
Across the Plains States region, there were 3,065 welding technology/welder graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 320 welding technology/welder graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,723 and $22,140 respectively.
This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in welding technology/welder. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality welding technology/welder programs as well as strong veteran support.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the welding technology/welder program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran population. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The wielding school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate”.
Top 17 Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Plains States Region
Out of the 17 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Dunwoody College of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified associates’s wielding students in 2020-2021.
Dunwoody College of Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 176 of the 1,281 students enrolled at Dunwoody College of Technology were GI Bill® students, of which 109 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $13,410. During this same period, 27 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read More…
Out of the 17 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #2 spot on the list. Lake Area Technical Institute is a small public school situated in Watertown, South Dakota. It awarded 19 associates’s wielding degrees in 2020-2021.
LATI also made our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6.Our most recent data shows that 136 of the 2,217 students enrolled at LATI were GI Bill® students, of which 40 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,486. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. LATI does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Read More…
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State College of Science. The school came in at #3 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate. North Dakota State College of Science is a small school located in Wahpeton, North Dakota that handed out 16 associates’s wielding degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State College of Science, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Of the 2,829 students enrolled at North Dakota State College of Science, 48 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 15 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,864. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at North Dakota State College of Science]](/colleges/north-dakota-state-college-of-science/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Anoka Technical College. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate. Anoka Technical College is located in Anoka, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 associates’s wielding degrees to qualified students.
Anoka Technical College also made our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3.Of the 1,683 students enrolled at Anoka Technical College, 65 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 39 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,500. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Read More…
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lake Superior College. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified associates’s wielding students in 2020-2021.
LSC also made our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10.Our most recent data shows that 173 of the 4,762 students enrolled at LSC were GI Bill® students, of which 97 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,648. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Read More…
Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate ranking, coming in at #6. Central Community College is a public institution located in Grand Island, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 28 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Community College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 14 of the 5,974 students enrolled at Central Community College were GI Bill® students, of which 7 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,530. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Central Community College]](/colleges/central-community-college/student-life/veterans/)
Hawkeye Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 5 associates’s wielding degrees in 2020-2021.
Hawkeye Community College also made our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11.According to our most recent data, Hawkeye Community College supports 5,042 students, and 150 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 68 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,269. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Read More…
With a ranking of #8, Southeast Community College Area did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s wielding degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
Southeast Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Of the 9,328 students enrolled at Southeast Community College, 17 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 7 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,488. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Read More…
Ridgewater College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate ranking. Ridgewater College is located in Willmar, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 associates’s wielding degrees to qualified students.
Ridgewater College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 38 of the 3,176 students enrolled at Ridgewater College were GI Bill® students, of which 25 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,506. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full Ridgewater College Veteran Student Life Report
Kirkwood Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 9 associates’s wielding degrees in 2020-2021.
Kirkwood Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Among the 12,277 students enrolled at Kirkwood Community College, 264 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 108 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,554. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Kirkwood Community College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Read More…
Indian Hills Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate ranking. Indian Hills Community College is located in Ottumwa, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 associates’s wielding degrees to qualified students.
IHCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.According to our most recent data, IHCC supports 3,279 students, and 106 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 45 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,629. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Indian Hills Community College Veteran Student Life Report
Central Lakes College - Brainerd landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate ranking. Central Lakes College is a small public school situated in Brainerd, Minnesota. It awarded 6 associates’s wielding degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Lakes College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Of the 4,491 students enrolled at Central Lakes College - Brainerd, 99 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 47 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,011. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Central Lakes College Veteran Student Life Report
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate ranking. WSU Tech is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
WSU Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Of the 4,606 students enrolled at WSU Tech, 163 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 110 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,096. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. WSU Tech does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Read More…
With a ranking of #14, State Technical College of Missouri did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate list. State Technical College of Missouri is a small school located in Linn, Missouri that handed out 28 associates’s wielding degrees in 2020-2021.
STC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Of the 1,756 students enrolled at STC, 83 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 44 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,461. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. STC does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at STC]](/colleges/linn-state-technical-college/student-life/veterans/)
Minneapolis Community and Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate ranking. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.According to our most recent data, Minneapolis Community and Technical College supports 6,429 students, and 127 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 96 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,795. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Minneapolis Community and Technical College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
Full Minneapolis Community and Technical College Veteran Student Life Report
Western Dakota Technical Institute ranked #16 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate list. Western Dakota Tech is a small school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 13 associates’s wielding degrees in 2020-2021.
Western Dakota Tech also made our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14.According to our most recent data, Western Dakota Technical Institute supports 1,324 students, and 125 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 61 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,360. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Western Dakota Technical Institute does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Western Dakota Tech]](/colleges/western-dakota-technical-institute/student-life/veterans/)
Ozarks Technical Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Wielding for an Associate list. OTC is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
OTC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Welding Technology/Welder Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 564 of the 11,237 students enrolled at OTC were GI Bill® students, of which 219 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,819. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Read More…
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- **GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
college factual