ArcLabs Welding School publishes separate charges for tuition, lab access, enrollment, and optional tools. For 2026, the 900-hour Advanced Welding program starts with $23,575 in published school charges, while the 1,300-hour Master Welder program starts at $31,775. Housing, food, transportation, personal expenses, and financial aid can change what you ultimately pay.
Quick Answer
ArcLabs’ 900-hour Advanced Welding program has $22,500 tuition, a $1,000 lab fee, and a $75 application fee, for $23,575 in published school charges. Adding the optional $1,650 school tool kit raises that amount to $25,225 before housing, food, transportation, and other personal expenses.
Key Takeaways
- The advertised $22,500 Advanced Welding tuition is not the complete school charge because a $1,000 lab fee and usually a $75 application fee apply.
- Published school charges total $23,575 for Advanced Welding and $31,775 for Master Welder before optional tool kits and personal living costs.
- Books and training materials are included, but students must buy the school’s optional kit or provide every required tool for approval.
- Federal aid is available to eligible students in the 900-hour and 1,300-hour programs, but aid varies and loans must generally be repaid.
- ArcLabs offers career assistance but does not guarantee job placement, certification, salary, or employment.
ArcLabs Welding School Cost at a Glance
The most dependable way to compare ArcLabs programs is to separate required school charges from optional supplies and personal living expenses. The following amounts come from the school’s 2026 Course Catalog and Student Handbook.
| Program | Tuition | Required Lab Fee | Application Fee | Published School Charges | Optional School Tool Kit | Total With Kit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Welding, 900 hours | $22,500 | $1,000 | $75 | $23,575 | $1,650 | $25,225 |
| Master Welder, 1,300 hours | $29,500 | $2,200 | $75 | $31,775 | $1,750 | $33,525 |
The $75 application fee is waived for qualifying veterans with a non-dishonorable discharge and for active-duty or National Guard members who show a current military ID. Tuition and fees may change, so the enrollment agreement provided for your campus and start date should be treated as the final price document.
The 900-hour program’s published direct school cost is $23,575 before an optional tool kit and personal living expenses, not $22,500.
Tuition, Fees, and What the Price Includes
Tuition includes books and school training materials. It does not include every cost connected with attendance.
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Required school charges
- Advanced Welding tuition: $22,500
- Advanced Welding lab fee: $1,000
- Master Welder tuition: $29,500
- Master Welder lab fee: $2,200
- Application fee: $75 unless waived or paid by another source
Optional tool kits
The school’s Advanced Welding tool kit costs $1,650. The Master Welder kit costs $1,750 and includes the Advanced kit plus additional items used for stainless steel, aluminum, and advanced work.
Students may bring their own tools instead of purchasing a school kit. However, every tool on the applicable kit list is required and must be approved for use in the welding lab. School-issued tool kits are nonrefundable.
Warning: Do not assume that bringing a helmet and gloves eliminates the tool expense. The published kit list includes an angle grinder, flowmeter, GTAW torch and adapter, hoses, clamps, measuring tools, consumables, safety gear, and many smaller hand tools. Ask the campus to review your tools before class starts.
Continuing-education seminars
The 70-hour Introduction to Welding Seminar and 70-hour Welder Upskill Seminar each cost $1,925 under the 2026 catalog. Seminar students must have proper personal protective equipment. Students training on specialty metals may also need to supply or purchase their own weld coupons.
Program Length and Class Schedules
ArcLabs offers three main training levels. The longer programs include extensive lab time, while seminars focus on one process or a narrower skill goal.
| Option | Hours | Main Focus | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Welding | 900 | SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, cutting, inspection, drawings, safety, and employment readiness | Students preparing for entry-level structural welding work |
| Master Welder | 1,300 | Advanced Welding curriculum plus an advanced structural or pipe-welding track | Students seeking more practice and specialty-metal training |
| Specialty seminar | 70 | Focused shop training in a selected process or skill area | Experienced welders or people exploring welding without a full program |
Published class schedules include:
- Day classes: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Full-time night classes: Monday through Thursday, 3:45 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Part-time night classes: Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The 900-hour program can take roughly six months on a full-time schedule. Part-time students need longer, and holidays, absences, make-up time, campus schedules, and start dates can affect the completion date.
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Living Expenses and Budgeting for Off-Campus Students
ArcLabs does not provide campus housing. That means there is no single living-cost figure that applies to every student. Your budget will depend on the campus, whether you live with family or roommates, your commute, your household size, and how long your schedule takes to complete.
Plan for the following expenses in addition to school charges:
- Rent, deposits, utilities, and renter’s insurance
- Food and household supplies
- Transportation, fuel, parking, maintenance, or public transit
- Phone service, health costs, and personal expenses
- Required eight-inch leather steel-toe boots and approved welding clothing
- Tools or PPE not already owned or included in a purchased kit
- Emergency savings for missed work, vehicle repairs, or schedule changes
Note: Cost of attendance is a financial-aid budget, not necessarily the amount ArcLabs bills you. It can include estimated housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses that you pay to landlords, stores, utilities, and other providers.
A practical cost formula
Required school charges + optional tools + living and transportation expenses − grants and scholarships = estimated net price before loans.
Student loans may reduce what you need to pay immediately, but they do not reduce the underlying net price. Borrowed money generally must be repaid with interest.
Financial Aid, Grants, Loans, and Payment Options
Eligible students in the 900-hour Advanced Welding and 1,300-hour Master Welder programs may apply for federal financial aid. The school lists the following programs:
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
- Direct Subsidized Loans
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Direct Parent PLUS Loans
Eligibility depends on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, your Student Aid Index, enrollment status, program, satisfactory academic progress, and other federal requirements. The 70-hour seminars are not listed as Title IV-eligible programs.
ArcLabs also states that qualifying students may use veterans education benefits, payment plans, and a limited Welding Now Scholarship of up to $1,000. Availability and eligibility should be confirmed with the campus financial-aid office.
Pro Tip: Complete the FAFSA and the school’s net-price calculator before accepting a loan. Compare the resulting grant amount, loan amount, monthly repayment estimate, and remaining cash balance.
Warning: A financial-aid award can contain both grants and loans. Grants usually reduce your net price, while subsidized, unsubsidized, and Parent PLUS loans create debt. Review interest, fees, repayment terms, and the total borrowed amount before signing.
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Admissions, Transfer Credit, and Refund Policies
Basic admissions requirements
Curriculum-program applicants generally need a high school diploma or GED, must be at least 18 or 17 with parental consent, must be able to meet the visual and physical demands of welding, and must tour the campus before starting. Seminar students are excluded from the diploma or GED requirement stated for the longer programs.
Five-day trial-enrollment period
First-time ArcLabs students may attend a five-consecutive-instructional-day trial period. A student who withdraws during that period is treated as a no-start, has the tuition obligation waived, and earns no credit. School fees and supplies may still apply where appropriate. The trial policy does not apply to re-entry or seminar students.
Transfer credit is limited
ArcLabs may grant credit for eligible prior OSHA-10 and welding work, but credit is not automatic. The school may require transcripts, syllabi, course outlines, and hands-on testing.
- Eligible welding study generally must have been completed within the previous 10 years.
- A minimum grade of 70 or C is required.
- Welding processes are subject to testing before class begins.
- Each attempted transfer test costs $25.
- Transfer credit is limited to 50% of the program: 450 hours for Advanced Welding or 650 hours for Master Welder.
- Approved clock hours reduce tuition through proration, but they can also reduce federal aid or veterans benefits.
ArcLabs does not guarantee that its credits will transfer to another institution.
Refund considerations
Refund rules differ according to the student’s location, withdrawal date, program completion percentage, funding source, and enrollment agreement. Optional school tool kits are nonrefundable once issued. Read the cancellation and refund sections of the current catalog and your enrollment agreement before paying.
Accreditation, Welding Safety, and Certification
ArcLabs states that it is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training. Its South Carolina locations are licensed through the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, while Texas schools are approved and regulated through the Texas Workforce Commission.
Accreditation and state approval do not mean that every employer will accept every credential or that employment is guaranteed. Ask employers in your target industry which welding processes, code qualifications, safety cards, and work experience they prefer.
Required safety clothing and PPE
Welding exposes students to intense light, fumes, hot metal, sparks, electricity, noise, cutting hazards, and moving or grinding equipment. The school requires safety practices that include:
- Z87-approved safety glasses in the shop at all times
- Safety glasses under a welding hood
- A clear face shield with safety glasses while grinding
- A properly tinted face shield while flame cutting
- Gloves during welding and flame cutting
- Long pants and long sleeves made from denim or flame-resistant material
- A welding shirt, jacket, or approved sleeves
- Leather steel-toe boots at least eight inches high
- No synthetic clothing, exposed skin, loose jewelry, or unsecured long hair
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also identifies welding fumes, ultraviolet radiation, burns, eye damage, electric shock, cuts, and crushing injuries as hazards that require proper controls and PPE.
School completion is not automatic AWS certification
Completing an ArcLabs program or passing an in-school performance test does not automatically mean that you hold an American Welding Society Certified Welder credential. AWS certification requires a performance test administered through an AWS Accredited Test Facility under an applicable welding procedure and code.
AWS certification remains active only while required continuity is maintained. Many applicable codes require documentation every six months showing that the welder continues using the qualified process.
The public tuition list does not clearly state that AWS certification testing or registration fees are included. Ask admissions to identify, in writing, each qualification or certification test offered, the governing code, the testing facility, and any separate fees.
Career Services, Welding Pay, and Return on Investment
ArcLabs provides career assistance in its curriculum programs. Services described in the current handbook and school resources include résumé preparation, employment searches, interview preparation, employer presentations, campus interviews, employer weld testing, and access to job postings.
Graduates in good standing may also receive up to 20 hours of job-preparation booth practice during the six months after graduation, subject to scheduling and booth availability. Carbon-steel practice is free, while stainless-steel or aluminum coupons may require a materials fee.
These services can help with a job search, but ArcLabs expressly states that enrollment and graduation do not guarantee job placement or employment.
Current national welding wage and outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earned a national median wage of $51,000 in May 2024. Employment is projected to grow 2% from 2024 through 2034, which is slower than the average for all occupations. However, about 45,600 openings are projected each year, mostly because workers leave the occupation or retire.
That $51,000 figure is a national median for workers at all experience levels. It is not an ArcLabs graduate salary or a guaranteed starting wage. Pay varies by location, industry, shift, travel requirements, code qualifications, overtime, union status, skill level, and experience.
How to judge whether the program is worth the cost
- Calculate the full direct cost: Include tuition, lab fees, application fee, required tools, boots, and other PPE.
- Add lost earnings: Include income you may give up while attending day or night classes.
- Estimate living costs: Use your expected schedule length, rent, commute, food, and household expenses.
- Subtract grants and scholarships: Do not subtract loans when calculating net price.
- Research local jobs: Review real entry-level job postings near the campus and in places where you are willing to work.
- Compare alternatives: Consider community-college welding programs, union or employer apprenticeships, employer-funded training, and shorter skill-upgrade courses.
- Ask for written outcomes: Request the latest campus-specific completion, placement, median debt, certification, and withdrawal data before enrolling.
Questions to Ask ArcLabs Before Enrolling
- What is the exact total on my enrollment agreement for my program, campus, and start date?
- Is the $75 application fee waived in my situation?
- Which tools and PPE must I own before the first lab session?
- Can the campus approve the tools I already own before I buy a kit?
- Which fees and supplies are nonrefundable?
- What grants, scholarships, loans, veterans benefits, and payment plans are included in my funding package?
- What would my monthly student-loan payment be under a standard repayment plan?
- Which certification or qualification tests will I take, and are the testing and registration fees included?
- Is an internship available for my cohort, and is it paid or unpaid?
- What are the latest completion and placement rates for my specific campus and program?
- Which employers hired recent graduates, and what starting wage range did those jobs advertise?
- What happens financially if I withdraw after the five-day trial period?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $22,500 the complete cost of the Advanced Welding program?
No. The 2026 catalog lists $22,500 in tuition, a required $1,000 lab fee, and a $75 application fee, producing $23,575 in published school charges. The optional $1,650 school tool kit, required clothing, living expenses, transportation, and personal costs can raise the total.
Are part-time or evening class options available?
Yes. The current catalog lists full-time and part-time night schedules. Full-time night classes generally meet Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Part-time night classes generally meet Monday through Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Confirm availability for your campus and start date.
What safety equipment is required, and is it provided?
Students need approved safety glasses, a welding hood, gloves, flame-resistant or denim clothing, long sleeves, and leather steel-toe boots at least eight inches high. Many tools and PPE items are included in the optional school kit. Students who do not buy the kit must provide every required item and obtain school approval.
Can I transfer credits from another technical school?
Possibly, but transfer credit is limited. Eligible prior study generally must be less than 10 years old and supported by official records. Welding processes require testing, with a $25 fee for each attempted test. No more than 50% of the selected program may be transferred, and approved hours may reduce both tuition and financial aid.
Does ArcLabs offer apprenticeships or employer partnerships?
The school invites employers to presentations, interviews, and weld testing and provides job-search support. The catalog also describes a possible 150-hour internship for accelerated students who have enough program time available. An internship is not guaranteed, and the catalog does not promise that it will be paid. Confirm current opportunities with the campus.
Are AWS certification exams included in the program cost?
The public tuition schedule does not clearly confirm that AWS Certified Welder testing and registration fees are included. AWS certification requires a performance test through an Accredited Test Facility. Ask ArcLabs for a written list of included tests, applicable codes, testing locations, registration fees, and maintenance requirements.
Does ArcLabs provide student housing?
No. ArcLabs does not provide on-campus housing. Students are responsible for arranging housing, food, utilities, transportation, and other personal expenses. Use the school’s net-price calculator and local rental costs to build an individualized budget.
Conclusion
ArcLabs’ 2026 published charges are higher than the $22,500 tuition figure alone suggests. The Advanced Welding program starts at $23,575 after the lab and application fees, or $25,225 with the optional school tool kit. The Master Welder program starts at $31,775, or $33,525 with its optional kit.
Your actual cost may be higher after housing, food, transportation, required clothing, and lost work income, or lower after grants and scholarships. Before enrolling, compare your written aid offer, expected debt, local entry-level welding jobs, certification costs, and lower-cost training alternatives. Career services can help, but employment and salary are not guaranteed.
Sources
- 2026 ArcLabs Course Catalog and Student Handbook — tuition, fees, tools, schedules, admissions, safety, transfer credit, financial aid, refunds, and career-services policies
- ArcLabs Welding Programs — current 900-hour, 1,300-hour, and 70-hour program descriptions
- ArcLabs Financial Aid — federal aid programs and program eligibility
- ArcLabs Net Price Calculator — individualized tuition, living-cost, grant, and loan estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — national wages, work environment, and employment projections
- American Welding Society Certified Welder Program — Accredited Test Facility testing and certification-continuity requirements
