Last updated: August 10, 2026
John Lopez Welding School no longer operates under that name. Advanced Career Institute (ACI) purchased the Bakersfield school in 2018 and continues welding training at 2925 Mosasco Street. The latest school-published price we could verify is ACI’s 2025 California catalog: $14,295 tuition plus a $250 registration fee, or $14,545 total, for the 38-week Advanced Welding Technology program. ACI’s current FAQ does not publish a dollar tuition and tells prospective students to contact admissions for an accurate price. A live Central California workforce-training listing currently shows $17,382 for the same program, so neither figure should be treated as a guaranteed 2026 enrollment quote without a current written agreement.
Quick Answer
There is no verified 2026 tuition published by ACI under the “John Lopez Welding School” name. ACI’s 2025 California catalog lists $14,295 in tuition plus a $250 registration fee, for a $14,545 school-published total. A current workforce-training listing shows $17,382, while ACI’s live FAQ tells students to contact admissions for accurate tuition. Use $14,545 only as a dated reference and get the current price, aid, and refund terms in writing.
Key Takeaways
- The former John Lopez Welding School became ACI’s Bakersfield campus in 2018.
- ACI’s 2025 catalog lists a $14,545 total for the 760-hour, 38-week Advanced Welding Technology program, but ACI does not currently publish a 2026 dollar tuition on its FAQ.
- A live Central California workforce-training listing shows $17,382 for the program, creating a price discrepancy that should be resolved with a current ACI enrollment agreement.
- The 2025 school-published fee schedule says books, supplies, materials, and the California Student Tuition Recovery Fund assessment are included.
- California BPPE’s 2024 institution-wide program data reported an 80% on-time completion rate for Advanced Welding Technology and said 77% of enrolled students used federal student loans.
- Federal aid, payment plans, veterans’ benefits, WIOA funding, and scholarships may be available to students who qualify; employment and pay are not guaranteed.
Cost at a Glance
| Current School Name | Advanced Career Institute, Bakersfield campus |
| Latest School-Published Cost Verified | $14,545 in ACI’s 2025 California catalog |
| Program Length | 760 clock hours over 38 weeks |
| Included | Books, supplies, materials, and the STRF assessment |
| 2026 Price Status | Not verified on ACI’s public site; current workforce listing shows $17,382, so obtain a written ACI quote before signing |
How Much Does John Lopez Welding School Cost Now?
The first correction is the school’s identity. Advanced Career Institute announced in July 2018 that it had purchased John Lopez Welding School and opened its Bakersfield campus at the former school’s location. ACI’s current Bakersfield campus page still lists the school at 2925 Mosasco Street, Unit B, Bakersfield, California 93312. Current cost questions should therefore be directed to ACI.
ACI’s 2025 California School Catalog and Student Handbook lists these dated charges for Advanced Welding Technology:
- Tuition: $14,295
- Registration fee: $250
- Published total: $14,545
The same fee schedule says tuition includes all books, supplies, and materials needed for the program. It also says the California Student Tuition Recovery Fund assessment is included in the listed charges.
For 2026, the public sources do not line up. ACI’s current FAQ does not give a dollar tuition and says tuition and registration costs vary by program. Meanwhile, the Central California Eligible Training Provider List currently shows a $17,382 program cost, including $16,357 in tuition and fees, $150 for books, $125 for tools, and $750 in other costs. Because ACI’s own current site does not confirm that $17,382 figure, treat it as a comparison point—not as a verified ACI 2026 quote.
Warning: Do not treat either $14,545 or $17,382 as a guaranteed 2026 price. Ask ACI for the latest catalog, enrollment agreement, and itemized cost sheet for your exact start date before paying a deposit or accepting a loan.
Price-source rule: For an enrollment decision, use the written ACI enrollment agreement for your exact start date first, then the latest ACI catalog or itemized admissions quote. Use state or workforce listings as cross-checks when they disagree with school-published figures.
What Do California State Records Show?
The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) 2024 annual report lists Advanced Welding Technology at $14,545 in total charges for that reporting year. It reports 245 students beginning the program, 196 on-time graduates, and an 80% on-time completion rate. It also reports that 77% of enrolled students and 81% of graduates used federal student loans. These are institution-wide Advanced Welding Technology figures reported for 2024, not a Bakersfield-only completion or placement rate and not a guarantee of your outcome.
The school should also give you a School Performance Fact Sheet before you sign an enrollment agreement. Review the cohort year, completion rate, job placement rate, and any wage data carefully. Outcomes from an older class may not reflect current hiring conditions.
What Extra Costs Should You Budget For?
The former article’s estimate of $1,000–$2,000 for tools, consumables, and books does not match ACI’s published fee schedule, which says those items are included. Your real extra costs are more likely to come from living expenses and personal needs.
Build a budget for:
- Travel to and from the Bakersfield campus
- Meals and daily living expenses during the 38-week program
- Work clothes or personal items not covered by the school’s supplied materials
- Housing if you do not live within commuting distance
- Any optional qualification tests, retests, or replacement equipment not included in your written agreement
- Interest and fees if you use student loans or private financing
ACI’s 2025 catalog says it does not offer on-campus housing. It may help students locate nearby accommodations, with the catalog giving an estimated range of $35–$100 per day at that time. Those rates are paid to the housing provider and can change.
Pro Tip: Ask admissions to mark every included item directly on your enrollment agreement. Also ask what happens if a helmet, tool, or consumable must be replaced and whether AWS qualification testing or retesting creates a separate charge.
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How Long Is ACI’s Welding Program?
ACI’s current welding program page and its 2025 catalog describe one Advanced Welding Technology program at the Bakersfield campus. It is designed for entry-level training and leads to an ACI Certificate of Completion.
Program Duration and Class Times
The program is 760 clock hours over 38 weeks. ACI’s current FAQ lists four welding time blocks: 6:00–10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 2:30–6:30 p.m., and 7:00–11:00 p.m. ACI says all class times are subject to change, so confirm the schedule for your start date.
| Program | Advanced Welding Technology |
| Length | 38 weeks |
| Clock Hours | 760 |
| Current Published Time Blocks | 6:00–10:00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; 2:30–6:30 p.m.; 7:00–11:00 p.m. |
Skills Covered by the Program
The curriculum includes these welding and metalworking processes:
- SMAW, commonly called stick welding
- GMAW, commonly called MIG welding
- FCAW, or flux-cored arc welding
- GTAW, commonly called TIG welding
- Oxy-acetylene cutting and brazing
Students also study shop and jobsite safety, blueprint reading, metallurgy, construction math, hand and power tools, layout, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and purge welding of sanitary process pipe.
Certificate and Qualification Opportunities
Completing the program earns an ACI Certificate of Completion. The program also gives students an opportunity to take two American Welding Society welder performance qualification tests. A performance qualification applies to the tested process, position, material, and procedure; it is not a blanket license for every welding job.
Note: Ask which two qualification tests are offered to your class, whether the first test fees are included, who issues the records, how continuity is maintained, and what a retest costs. Get the answers in writing.
Published admissions requirements include a high school diploma or GED and the physical ability to perform welding-industry tasks. Confirm all current entrance requirements before applying.
What Financing and Payment Options Are Available?
ACI’s tuition assistance page lists several possible funding routes. Availability and eligibility depend on the student and the program.
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Payment Plans Available
Potential options include institutional payment plans, private loans, employer-sponsored funding, and cash payment arrangements. A payment plan can make the monthly bill smaller, but it does not necessarily reduce the total cost.
Before agreeing to any financing, ask for:
- The amount financed
- The annual percentage rate and all fees
- The monthly payment and number of payments
- The total amount you will repay
- Late-payment and default terms
- What happens to the balance if you withdraw
Financial Aid Options
ACI states that eligible students may use federal Pell Grants, federal student loans, scholarships, WIOA funds, veterans’ education benefits, employer support, and other approved funding. Grants and scholarships generally do not require repayment, while loans do.
Do not compare schools by sticker price alone. Compare your net price: tuition and required fees, plus living and transportation costs, minus grants and scholarships. Keep loans separate so you can see how much debt you would carry after graduation.
What Scholarships and Grants Can Welding Students Use?
The AWS Welder Training Scholarship is designed for students entering welding certificate programs that are less than two years long. AWS says up to 800 awards of $1,000 are available annually, with applications accepted through November 30 and selections made on a rolling basis.
AWS scholarship funds can be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required by the program. Awards are sent to the educational institution rather than directly to the student.
A scholarship reduces your net cost only after it is awarded and accepted by the school. Do not subtract a hoped-for award from your budget.
Also ask ACI about local workforce funding, employer sponsorships, rehabilitation funding, and scholarships tied to your county, union, veteran status, or career program. Application windows and funding levels change, so check each source directly.
Can You Use Federal Financial Aid at ACI?
ACI’s 2025 catalog states that the institution is eligible to participate in federal Title IV student aid programs. Students seeking federal aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Federal aid is not automatic. Eligibility can depend on your financial information, citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, enrollment, prior aid history, satisfactory academic progress, and other federal rules. ACI’s catalog also says Advanced Welding Technology students need a high school diploma, GED, or recognized equivalent to qualify for federal aid.
- Complete the FAFSA using current tax and identity information.
- Review the school’s aid offer and separate grants from loans.
- Ask how much aid applies to tuition and how much, if any, remains for living costs.
- Review loan interest, origination fees, repayment, and the school’s return-of-aid policy.
- Accept only the amount you need.
Warning: A school refund and the federal Return of Title IV calculation are separate. Withdrawing can leave you owing the school even when part of your aid is returned to the government.
How Does ACI Cost Compare With Bakersfield College?
A private career school and a community college can both teach welding, but their price structures and credentials differ.
ACI’s 2025 school-published price is $14,545 for a 38-week, 760-hour program with books, supplies, and materials included. By comparison, Bakersfield College currently lists a Welding Certificate of Achievement, and its California enrollment fee is $46 per unit. The current accessible welding page does not state the Certificate of Achievement’s total required units, so this article does not multiply an older unit count into a current program price. Bakersfield College also lists other possible campus, health, parking, materials, and supply charges, so compare the complete required-course plan and fee schedule rather than the per-unit rate alone.
| Factor | ACI Career Program | Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Price structure | Bundled program price | $46-per-unit California enrollment fee plus other applicable costs; confirm current welding COA unit requirements |
| Published timeline | 38 weeks | Depends on course sequence and availability |
| Credential | Career-school certificate plus test opportunities | College certificate with academic units |
| Best comparison | Net price, total time, lab access, course content, qualification tests, completion rates, placement data, and schedule fit | |
The cheaper option is not always the better fit, and the faster option is not always the best value. Visit both shops, compare hands-on hours, confirm equipment access, and ask employers which qualifications they expect for the jobs you want. For broader local context, see our guide to welding school costs in California.
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Is ACI Welding School Worth the Cost?
No reliable source supports the claim that John Lopez Welding School graduates typically earn $45,000–$65,000 in their first year. The best national benchmark is broader: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2024 median annual wage of $51,000 for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers. The lowest 10% earned less than $38,130, while the highest 10% earned more than $75,850.
BLS projects 2% employment growth from 2024 to 2034, with about 45,600 openings each year on average—mostly from workers changing careers or leaving the labor force.
Those figures cover workers across the country and all experience levels. They are not a promise of starting pay in Bakersfield. Actual wages depend on process, code qualification, industry, overtime, travel, union status, experience, and local demand.
Estimate your return before enrolling:
- Add tuition, fees, transportation, housing, and lost earnings while in school.
- Subtract grants and scholarships, but do not subtract loans.
- Estimate realistic local starting pay from recent job postings and employer conversations.
- Compare the new wage with what you could earn without the program.
- Test whether the expected gain can cover loan payments and living expenses.
Also review ACI’s current School Performance Fact Sheet. Placement help can be valuable, but ACI states that employment is not guaranteed. If AWS testing or retesting will create a separate charge, compare it with our guide to welding certification costs and, more importantly, the written testing fees ACI gives you for your class.
How to Request a Personalized Cost Estimate
Contact ACI’s Bakersfield admissions office and request a written estimate for the exact start date and schedule you are considering. During this August 10, 2026 review, ACI’s official contact page listed the Bakersfield campus at 2925 Mosasco Street, Unit B, Bakersfield, CA 93312 and phone number 661-535-1480.
Ask for these documents and answers before signing:
- The latest California catalog and fee schedule
- The enrollment agreement with every charge itemized
- The latest School Performance Fact Sheet for Advanced Welding Technology
- A list of books, PPE, tools, materials, and tests included in tuition
- Any optional test, retest, replacement-equipment, or graduation fees
- Your estimated grant, scholarship, and loan amounts
- The net amount you must pay from savings or earnings
- The monthly payment and total repayment for each loan or payment plan
- The cancellation, refund, and Return of Title IV policies
- The current class schedule, attendance rules, and makeup policy
- Current completion and job placement data for the Bakersfield program
Do not rely on a verbal estimate. Keep the catalog, signed agreement, aid offer, receipts, and emails in one folder. These documents control the financial terms if a dispute or withdrawal occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is John Lopez Welding School still open?
Not under that name. Advanced Career Institute announced that it purchased John Lopez Welding School in 2018 and now operates the Bakersfield training location.
How much does the current Bakersfield welding program cost?
The latest school-published figure verified in this review is ACI’s 2025 catalog: $14,295 tuition plus a $250 registration fee, or $14,545 total. ACI’s current FAQ does not publish a dollar tuition, while a current Central California workforce-training listing shows $17,382. Ask ACI for a written 2026 enrollment price for your exact start date.
Why do online listings show different ACI welding prices?
The sources are from different dates and systems. ACI’s 2025 school catalog lists $14,545, while the current Central California Eligible Training Provider List shows $17,382. ACI’s live FAQ does not publish a dollar tuition. The enrollment agreement for your exact start date is the document to use for the current price.
Do alumni receive job placement assistance after graduation?
ACI says completers in good standing may use its placement services, including resume help, interview preparation, employer referrals, and job-market information. The school does not guarantee employment.
Are housing or parking fees charged on campus?
ACI’s 2025 catalog says it does not offer on-campus housing, though staff may help students find nearby accommodations. The published welding fee schedule does not list a separate parking charge. Confirm parking rules and any current costs with the Bakersfield campus.
Is tuition refundable if a student withdraws early?
The 2025 catalog provides a cancellation period through the first class session or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later, subject to stated registration and equipment deductions. After that period, a student may qualify for a pro-rata refund through 60% of the attendance period. Federal aid return rules are separate and may leave a balance owed.
Do evening or weekend classes cost more than daytime classes?
ACI’s 2025 fee schedule lists one price for Advanced Welding Technology rather than different prices by session. ACI’s current FAQ lists four weekday welding time blocks from 6:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. and does not list a weekend welding schedule. Confirm current class times and charges before enrolling.
Are supplies available for purchase on campus at a discount?
The official fee schedule says required books, supplies, and materials are included in tuition. It does not support a claim that the campus sells discounted supplies. Ask for the included-item list and replacement prices in writing.
Conclusion
The key fact is that John Lopez Welding School is now a historical name. ACI purchased the school in 2018 and operates the Bakersfield welding program today. Its 2025 catalog lists a $14,545 total for 38 weeks and 760 clock hours, while a current Central California workforce-training listing shows $17,382. Because ACI’s live FAQ does not publish a current dollar tuition, neither figure should replace a written 2026 enrollment quote. Compare that quote with your grants and scholarships, refund terms, state-reported outcomes, total living costs, and realistic local job prospects before enrolling or borrowing.
Sources
- Advanced Career Institute acquisition announcement — confirms the 2018 purchase of John Lopez Welding School and the Bakersfield location.
- ACI 2025 California School Catalog and Student Handbook — supports the $14,545 dated fee schedule, 760-hour/38-week program, included materials, housing, qualification opportunities, aid, and refund terms.
- ACI Frequently Asked Questions — supports current welding class times and ACI’s instruction to contact admissions for accurate tuition.
- ACI Welding Training Program — supports the current program, curriculum, campuses, qualification focus, and placement-assistance description.
- California BPPE 2024 Annual Report for Advanced Career Institute — supports institution-wide Advanced Welding Technology charges, completion, enrollment, and federal-loan participation data.
- Central California Eligible Training Provider List — provides the current $17,382 workforce-listing price used only as a cross-check, not as an ACI-confirmed 2026 quote.
- ACI Tuition Assistance — lists potential grants, loans, payment plans, WIOA, employer funding, and veterans’ benefits.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook — supports national welder pay and 2024–2034 outlook data.
- AWS Welder Training Scholarship — supports scholarship amounts, eligibility, dates, and permitted uses.
- Bakersfield College Welding Program and Bakersfield College tuition and fees — support the current Welding Certificate of Achievement and $46-per-unit California enrollment fee.
