Finally found some welding classes, but $$$$

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Here at the local J.C. they offer a machine tool tech course 1 & 2.  This semester is 2 and is just welding. It covers Ox/Ac, stick, mig, Tig, and Aluminum. The first course, (fall sem.) offers machining. Tap & threading, milling, lathe, and other neat stuff.  Next week is the start of the welding portion. It's a six unit course and is about $630.00 for the semester. Tue & Thurs eve 5-8, so that's 6hrs a week until mid May. How does that price sound compared to others? My awesome wife said she has no problem spending money on that for me. I feel it's worth it, it's alot of hours to learn and have supervised practice.  Just wanted to compare prices.  I have to pay Wed.  Thanks guys,mike
Reply:I have been taking welding classes at the Technical College near my house.  The course is 80 hours, evenings 5:30 - 9:30 twice a week.  There are 42 booths that you can do  SMAW, MIG - solid wire, flux core & dual shield. There is also a TIG room with 12 stations.  There are two instructors, last quarter we had 16 students.  The cost for the course is $251.  Students have to supply their own helmet, jacket, TIG torch parts, etc.  All materials and consumables (except tungsten) is supplied.The first was intro to welding.  Starting with OA, then SMAW 6010 & 7018 all positions. Progress from one process to another is comptency based.  After SMAW you can choose to work on MIG or TIG.  There are two instructors; one has been working at Todd Shipyard for 20 years and has been teaching for 8 years, the other has been welding for 30 years and teaching for at a local high school for 15 years or more.  I have really enjoyed the classes and have built a number of items for use around my property.  Nice to be able to make things for my tractor or bulldozer.
Reply:4x4jedi, I took two semesters once-nothing beats a good Teachers assistant & or Instructor . For fast forwarding your skills- might seem like a delay,but once you are out've the chute welding on your own you will rocket past most of your wheeling/welding mates- damn good chance you will become their T/a- you should charge em, $ saved from having to buy beer will get that tuition back in your pocket in no time.Or you can find time to make a couple sets of small-block motor mounts while your there- sell em to your motor swapping bros. and there you go more tuition back in your pocket"after a long day of doing nothing...its gooood to kick back" Pumbaa
Reply:That is comparible to the prices around here. That class sounds great, multi-process exposure would rock. Theres a class like that here, but they keep canceling it, otherwise i'd take that too.
Reply:I'm looking at the course from a distant perspective, so, I may see it differently than you do up close & personal.I see the pricing as fairly standard for college level offerings, and I think I'd want to walk thru the facility and talk to the instructor before plunkin down my cash, to get sort of a feel of what is available.   That would enable you to also ask if there are a couple of prior students who completed the course.You don't say if you have experience with the educational providor, or the facility's reputation.All in all, presuming it's a good course, with a competent instructor, with appropriate class size, that money will be the best investment you will make in welding.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Well I paid my dues today.  The school even dinged me 2.5% extra for using mastercard. Oh well.  At least I got enrolled in time.Thanks for the replys everyone.  Franz I understand what you mean. I keep telling myself six credits of underwater basket weaving is the same price.  I don't mind spending the money I was just a little shocked. Guess I was thinking three units a week.  For me it's definatly worth it. Education is priceless and it will last my lifetime.  The instructors also run a local ironworks and I hav'nt heard anything bad about them. I kind of had to hurry because I found this course late and it won't be offered again until next Jan.  I did ask about refunds if I was'nt happy with the instructors.  Like I said, did'nt have time to check up on these guys so I have two weeks to see if they can weld . I keep you guys posted. Thanks again,mikeI do understand that's why I drive a Toyota!!
Reply:Here in CA at the community college its $18 a unit and each process is 2 units or more.  Then you have to buy whichever book the insructor chooses which is $100 or so.  Not really too bad but Governor Arnold is trying to raise it to $24 a unit.  Still not bad if you are only taking a few units per semester but I feel for the full time students take 12 units per semester + books.
Reply:"Still not bad if you are only taking a few units per semester but I feel for the full time students take 12 units per semester + books."While I understand spending $$$$ always hurts, I look at things a little differently.  My wife taught college level AP nursing for a couple years, and reading some of the papers students wrote was very educational, for ME.Whenever something is free, or cheap, it holds little value, or worth to the person who is the actual owner.  This concept holds very strongly in education, just as it does in cars, pickups, or anything else.Free or cheap education is seldom taken seriously by the student, and it's visable from the work the student delivers.  Kids who are attending classes paid for by their parents put less effort into learning than people who are paying for the class themselves.   It's very obvious from the instructors point of view.When the same instructor presents the same course at both a private college and community college, in the same city, the difference in student result is even more obvious.  Students who pay more demand more, and work harder.   An engineering prof at RIT confirmed my observations in this area, he has established the reputation of a Hard Prof, and his classes are only chosen by students from foreign countrys and people who really want to learn.  Other profs presenting the same course with the same credit have overflowing classes and produce students who didn't intake 1/10 of the information.The matter of books in College classes has become another obscenity.  Professors who sell books they wrote should be required to defend that text before they are allowed to sell it, rather than just sell their book as an extra source of income.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:If you want come to Wi. and do some work for me for I'll help you learn welding.J P Streets Welding LLC
Reply:Jerry he'd freeze to death in Wisconsin.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Actually we've had several sub-zero days here. See my new post about this class.mikeI do understand that's why I drive a Toyota!!