Soon to be welding student, and I need advice.

admin

Hello,I'm currently looking at a school for education in welding. The skills they teach are as follows:•Welding Prints & Symbols •Gas Metal Arc Welding •Gas Tungsten Arc Welding •Shielded Metal Arc Welding •Oxy Fuel Gas Welding & Cutting •Pipe Fitting •Pipe Welding •Production Fabrication •Advanced Welding •Professional Development & Customer ServiceMy question is mainly regarding both the tuition and the certificate aquired at the end of the 15 month course.  Tuition is around $17,000 and at the end you receive a Diploma. They said they used to do certifications but found there was no diference in giving a diploma as far as job placement.  They have an 86% job placement 2012-2013. Is $17,000 too much for what they are offering? How much would I start out making in the TN welding market? Thank you in advance for your attention.
Reply:What school is it? Have heard of a couple that aren't so good and others that are great.
Reply:Miller-motte here in TN.
Reply:$17k seems really high, but then again I'm in Texas. San Jacinto College charges about $3k for an AAS in Welding (given four semesters at 15 credit hours each, and in-district tuition). I'd also check in to who accredited them and if neighboring colleges accept their transfer credits.Edit: A bit of google work suggests they're in the same vein as ITT Tech and the other scuzzy for- profits. Stay away, and check with your local community college or junior college for what they can offer instead.Last edited by teh603; 01-03-2015 at 08:40 AM.
Reply:What he said ^^^We have several here and the most expensive is less than 6k.Most are like 3k and you get real certs.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:My son starts college locally tomorrow for welding, machining & CAD.  He will end up with AAS when he's done.  Problem is first semester he has to pay "out of state" tuition which falls in the $13K range.  After that he gets to pay instate tuition at a rate of about $3K per year.17K is a bit high, but if you are paying out of state tuition, that's the going rate.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:I took the CWI course at Hobart in Troy OH and was really impressed with everyone there. While I didn't do any welding, the instructors I dealt with were top notch. The booths, welding equipment, specimen prep area, general layout, were some of the best I have ever seen. I'm not sure on their prices but if I was doing it all over again and the local place was 17k I would look pretty hard at their program.
Reply:I wonder if the reason they don't do certifications is because they aren't approved to give them in the first place??? Anyone hiring would be more interested in the weld quality the student did over a piece of paper saying they passed a course.
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveI wonder if the reason they don't do certifications is because they aren't approved to give them in the first place???
Reply:Yeah, be careful.  A LOT of "trade schools" and the like (e.g. beauty, medical assistants, mechanics, etc.) aren't worth spit - they do the minimum to get accredited, overcharge for tuition and get rich from the students' federal education loan money.  You'll see these filthy dumps with administrators cruising around in their BMWs.  Visit the programs, talk to their instructors. Check out the instructional areas, the equipment, etc.  Be sure they really cover what they say they do.  Like, do you spend serious time really LEARNING Skill X, or do they just talk about in class a few minutes so they can say they cover it?  Ask to see samples of the students' work.  What does "advanced welding" mean?  Space shuttles?  Repairing bird cages?  That sounds like a heck of a lot of money to me.  Please don't become part of the student loan crisis; it will ruin your life. An interesting review from ex-employees of the place on glassdoor.com. Wow: "AC has been broken for weeks - bugs in all the buildings. No supplies. Huge potholes in the unmarked parking lot..."http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Mil...ws-E130014.htmGood luck - think carefully before you decide.  Remember, you're only going to get one shot at it.Last edited by Ruark; 01-08-2015 at 07:52 PM.-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:Random tip from someone who has been in your shoes recently.... Get yourself a decent auto darkening hood like a miller classic or pro hobby.  No sense in getting a cheapo HF hood.   Everyone ive seen get those who sticks around ends up upgrading.