How many ways are there to join metal to metal with heat and more metal? A lot. We’ll teach you all of them.
Welding Image of Students
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Employed
100% of our recent graduates got a job in the industry.
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Student Satisfaction
99% of our recent graduates report they are satisfied with their Madison College education.

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Welding
Program Number: 314421
Your Degree:
Technical Diploma
Area of Study:
Construction, Manufacturing and Maintenance
Delivery Method:
100% In Person
Estimated Time to Complete:
29 Credits | Finish diploma in 1 year
financial aid icon Financial Aid Available
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What You'll Pay
Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your tuition costs.

Estimated Program Cost

$6,347.46

Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid and scholarships help you pay for your education.
  • Program Overview

    As a student in the Welding program at Madison College, you will:

    • Develop welding skills using common manual and semi-automatic arc welding processes.
    • Gain skills and knowledge in industrial safety, blueprint reading, metallurgy, basic metal fabrication and career exploration/employability.
    • Prepare for all welding positions using a variety of plate and sheet metal, including pipe welding.
    • Complete welding projects following American Welding Society (AWS) codes and procedures.
    • Prepare for a variety of entry-level positions in the welding, metal fabrication, construction and manufacturing industries.

    Welding Program Details

    Students in the Welding program can attend full time.

    Welding classes may be offered at the Madison College Truax and Fort Atkinson campuses.

    Welding Careers

    Earning your One-year Technical Diploma in the Welding program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for valuable work as a:

    • Maintenance Welder
    • Qualified Welder
    • Structural Welder
    • Welder/Fabricator
    • Production Welder
    • Ironworker Apprentice
    • Steamfitter Apprentice

    With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:

    • Welding Apprentice
    • Welding Foreman
    • Welding Inspector
    • Welding Supervisor

    Metal Fabrication Double Diploma!

    After completing your Welding diploma, you can earn a Metal Fabrication diploma with eleven more credits. Contact tandt@madisoncollege.edu for more information.

    Program News

    Madison College Wolfie poses with child at 2024 Metal Mania
    Madison College Fort Atkinson Crowns Champs of Metal Mania Competition
    Madison College's Fort Atkinson, with its newly renovated welding and metal fabrication space, hosted the annual Metal Mania. The event highlighted the college's Metal Fabrication with Welding Bolt-on program where students earn two degrees in one year.
    Madison College students at SkillsUSA
    Madison College Students Make their Mark at SkillsUSA National Competition
    Ten Madison College students competed and excelled in the recent SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference
  • Curriculum and Experience

    Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

    Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

    • Progress toward your specific requirements
    • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

    If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.

    First Semester
    10-606-200
    2 credits
    31-442-314
    2 credits
    31-442-315
    2 credits
    31-457-301
    2 credits
    31-457-309
    1 credit
    Second Semester
    10-449-100
    1 credit
    31-442-321
    2 credits
    31-442-322
    2 credits
    31-442-390
    2 credits
    31-457-302
    2 credits
  • Admission

    To Apply

    Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
    International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.

    Application Dates

    Fall 2025

    • Application open
    • Application completion deadline is August 15, 2025

    Admission Requirements

    All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.

    1. Admission Application

    The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.

    2. Education Completion\

    Official transcripts must be sent from the institutions you attended and indicate one of the following:

    • High school  transcript (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED transcript
    • College transcript(s) showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
        • The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
        • Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum

    All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.

    Additional Notes

    • Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
    • Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.

    After Acceptance

    Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College. 

    Questions?

    Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.

    apply for admission

    Get Started!

    Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Welding career.

    It's Free to Apply

  • Career Outcomes

    MATC Welding program graduates are prepared to enter the workforce with effective job skills.  

    Safety Awareness
    Apply and demonstrate safe working practices and techniques that comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, local requirements and established industry safety practices.

    Employability Skills and Practices
    Demonstrate abilities that contribute to employment by displaying flexibility, self-motivation, time efficiency, effective written and oral communication, and  contributing to work team success.

    Career Advancement Skills and Personal Initiative
    Demonstrate career advancement skills by engaging in problem solving, time management and shop management practices.

    Technical Welding Skills
    Demonstrate knowledge, set-up and correct operation of commonly used welding equipment.

    Basic Metallurgy and Properties/Identification of Metals
    Understand and apply metallurgy concepts and principals to common welding and metal fabrication processes.

    Technical Metal Fabrication Skills
    Understand and demonstrate basic metal fabrication functions.

    • Graduate Summary

      Graduate Report Summary Overview

      202120222023
      Number of Program Graduates234134
      Number of Surveys Sent234134
      Number of Surveys Returned193019
      Percent of Surveys Returned
      Available for Employment182615
      Percent Available for Employment94.7%86.7%78.9%
      Not in Labor Market
      Percent Not in Labor Market5.3%13.3%21.1%
      Available for Employment

      202120222023
      Graduates Employed172612
      Percent of Graduates Employed94.4%100.0%80.0%
      Employed in Related Occupation162412
      Percent Employed in Related Occupation94.1%92.3%100.0%
      Employed in Unrelated Occupation120
      Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation5.9%7.7%0.0%
      Employed - No Response000
      Percent Employed - No Response0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Seeking Employment103
      Percent Seeking Employment5.6%0.0%20.0%
      Reaction To Training at Madison College

      202120222023
      Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4)3.83.93.7
      Number of Satisfaction Responses182715
      Very Satisfied (4)152410
      Percent Very Satisfied83.3%88.9%66.7%
      Satisfied (3)335
      Percent Satisfied16.7%11.1%33.3%
      Unsatisfied (2)000
      Percent Unsatisfied0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Very Unsatisfied (1)
      Percent Very Unsatisfied0.0%0.0%0.0%
      Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

      202120222023
      Number of Primary Reason Responses193019
      Preparation for Getting a Job
      Percent Preparation for Getting a Job
      Career Change
      Percent Career Change
      Improvement of Existing Skills
      Percent Improvement of Existing Skills
      Preparation for Further Education
      Percent Preparation for Further Education
      Personal Interest
      Percent Personal Interest
      Other
      Percent Other0.0%0.0%0.0%
      When Employment was Obtained

      202120222023
      Number of When Employment Obtained Responses172612
      Before Enrollment231
      Percent Before Enrollment11.8%11.5%8.3%
      While Attending the College352
      Percent While Attending the College17.6%19.2%16.7%
      After Training at the College12189
      Percent After Training at the College70.6%69.2%75.0%
      Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

      202120222023
      Number of Employment Location Responses172612
      In College District16229
      Percent In College District94.1%84.6%75.0%
      In Wisconsin, Not in District033
      Percent of In Wisconsin0.0%11.5%25.0%
      Outside of Wisconsin100
      Percent Outside Wisconsin5.9%0.0%0.0%
      Employer Location Unknown010
      Percent Location Unknown0.0%3.8%0.0%
      Salary Trend
      Salary Trend202120222023
      Full Time Employment (Related Job)Full Time Salary Count142110
      Average Monthly Wage$3,689$3,841$4,274
      Average Hourly Wage$21.45$22.33$24.85
      Average Work Hours per Week44.147.544.9
      Part Time Employment (Related Job)Part Time Salary Count1
      Average Hourly Wage$35.00
      Average Work Hours per Week30.0
    • Graduate Employers

      Graduate Employers for academic year: 2023
      Employer(s)Job TitleCity*State**Positions
      EK Machine, IncWelderFall River
      Electronic Theatre Controls IncWelderMiddleton
      Fox Valley ElevatorWelderSherwood
      J P CullenApprentice Ironworker
      Midwest Cremation ServiceShop WorkerPoynette
      ProMetal WorksWelderDeForest
      Sub-Zero Freezer Co, IncWelderFitchburg
      Sub-Zero Freezer Co, IncWelder/FinisherFitchburg
      United AlloyWelderJanesville2

      * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.

      ** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.

      *** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu

Ready to get started?
Your first step is to apply to Madison College. It's easy and free to apply, so get started today!
Contact the School of Technologies and Trades

Madison Truax Campus
Main Building, A2105

1701 Wright Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53704

tandt@madisoncollege.edu
608.246.6800

Hours

Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (phone or email only)