What is Tulsa Welding School Known For?
Tulsa Welding School is a vocational training college founded in 1949 by two welders to make trade careers more accessible to their community. The institution has been training top-notch welders ever since and is known for its dedication to helping its students change their lives, putting them on a lifetime path to success in the trades.
Tulsa Welding School offers welding, HVAC/R training, and electrical training programs, with morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend class options available. The institution also boasts VR components to its training programs, making its education notable for its quality and flexibility.
Tulsa Welding Schools’s hands-on training programs are created with employer demands in mind, and the institution’s supportive and experienced faculty and staff strive to train students in skills necessary for employment and personal success.
Is it Legit?
The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges accredits all institutes of the Tulsa Welding School. Individual campus locations of the institution boast specific accreditations and approvals as well.
The Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools licenses the Tulsa Welding School’s Tulsa Campus. In addition, the branch is a member of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and the American Welding Society, among other organizations.
The Jacksonville branch is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education and is a member of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges and the American Welding Society.
Tulsa Welding School’s Houston and Dallas Campuses are approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission on Career Schools and Colleges.
Is Tulsa Welding School Worth It?
The Tulsa Welding School is renowned for its premier program quality in the trades. The institution boasts over 35,000 graduates and the Tulsa Welding School alums with an average starting salary of $21.40/hour.
Balancing classroom time with hands-on training to train students optimally for their careers while still providing quality education, the institution prioritizes its students’ needs and success, allowing them to practice career-specific skills on weekends and even after graduation.
The institution further supports its students through its career services programs, offering advantageous opportunities for testing and helping students get their foot in the door at various esteemed trade companies. Students and alumni alike of the Tulsa Welding School say the program has led them to a community network that lasts a lifetime.
Tulsa Welding School vs. Community College
The Tulsa Welding School is an institution that has offered over 60 years of hands-on training in the skilled trades, provided by a roster of highly experienced staff that works alongside students to further their skills in and out of the classroom, bolstering their resumes as well as their morale. The institution offers opportunities most community college students may miss through their specific programs focusing on the skilled trades.
Students of the Tulsa Welding School have the chance to seek employment as soon as they graduate. In contrast, traditional community college students may need multiple years and thousands of dollars worth of additional training and education before they can start earning entry-level wages.
Tulsa Welding School strives to personalize students’ educational experiences and support them through it, offering incredibly flexible class schedules ranging from morning to afternoon, evening times, and even weekend classes available to students.
The school even provides VR training programs that may supplement students’ hands-on learning, offering students needing more flexible schedules the experience they need to excel in their careers.
In addition to their quality programs, the Tulsa Welding School offers students the support of experienced financial aid professionals, who help students budget and plan financially, additionally allowing them to leverage their financial aid to its maximum potential, making their educational investment all the more worthwhile.
Acceptance Rate
Tulsa Welding School has an acceptance rate of 100%.
Cost Per Year
Tuition at the Tulsa Welding School for welding-related programs ranges from $17,500 to $22,650 annually for non-military students. Welding program tuition ranges from $15,750 to $20,385 for military students.
HVAC/R-related programs’ annual costs range between $16,900 to $19,700 for non-military students and $15,210 to $17,730 for military students.
The institution additionally accepts federal financial aid through grants, external scholarships, and military benefits. Furthermore, Tulsa Welding School boasts financial aid advisors who guide students through the process of financial assistance, ensuring the institution’s affordability and making it a quality investment for all students.
School Catalog
A copy of the school catalog can be found here.
School Hours
The Tulsa Welding School’s main campus facilities are available from 9 AM to 8 PM, Monday through Friday, and 9 AM to 1 PM on Saturday.
Class schedules for students enrolled in the institution may fall outside of this range:
- Morning classes, offered Monday through Friday, are available from 7:30 AM to 12:20 PM.
- Afternoon classes, offered Monday through Friday, are available from 1 PM to 6 PM.
- Evening classes are available Monday through Friday from 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM.
- Weekend classes offered exclusively as labs on Saturday and Sunday, are available from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Programs & Courses
HVAC & Building Services
- HVAC
Construction and Architecture
- Welding
Electrical Applications
- Entry Level Electrician
Campus Locations
Tulsa, OK 2545 East 11th St., Tulsa, OK 74104
Jacksonville, FL 3500 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32216
Houston, TX 243A Greens Rd., Houston, TX 77060
Dallas Metro 700 E. Airport Freeway Irving, TX 75062
Financial Aid Services
Federal and state loans or grants help pay for tuition. For qualified applicants, TWS scholarships or zero-interest payments lighten the cost of schooling. At the High School Senior Welding Competition, high schoolers might win a full ride to attend. Price calculators from the Financial Aid Department give an idea of how much an attendee will spend, and experts can answer any questions.
Student Services
Locations offer free, scheduled tours for those interested in enrollment. TWS may assist out-of-town attendees to find local, short-term housing. Regular activities allow enrollees to network with classmates. Flexible schedules, professional instructors, and mentoring ensure that students get the most of their education.
Career Services
Career Services invites nearby businesses for job fairs on campus. Tulsa Welding School also helps with resumes, interviews, and test prep. Graduates are able to get leads about local and national trade jobs from the department as well.
Veteran and Military Services
TWS is a Military Friendly School. Current and past armed forces personnel are encouraged to speak with an Admissions or Financial Aid Representative. Scholarships may be available from organizations like The American Legion or Pat Tillman Foundation.
MyCAA and GI Bill plans can also aid in tuition financing. Tulsa Welding School offers special military pricing for many active duty service members and veterans. Even dependent relatives of soldiers are eligible for most of these payment options.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Tulsa Welding School (TWS) in Tulsa, OK, is generally viewed as a dynamic and effective hands-on trade school, particularly for welding. It is praised for its quality instruction and dedicated career services staff, but faces strong, recurring criticisms regarding high costs, aggressive admissions tactics, and issues with affiliated student housing and the loss of VA accreditation.
Overall Score: 4.3/5 Stars
Common Praises
High-Quality, Hands-On Instruction: Students consistently praise the instructors as “experienced amazing welders and teachers” who provide an intensive, effective learning experience. The school is often referred to as the “Harvard of Welding schools,” and students feel prepared for the field quickly.
Dedicated Career Services: The Career Services team is repeatedly highlighted as a major strength. Staff members (e.g., Career Services staff member A, Career Services staff member B) are praised for “genuinely caring” and going “above and beyond” to help students find jobs, sometimes even after graduation. The school also hosts well-received job fairs.
Supportive and Positive Community: Many reviews describe the staff and learning environment as “great set of people,” “very helpful,” and a “Great community” that actively works to keep students updated and positive throughout their training.
Fast Path to a Career: Graduates appreciate the relatively short program length, which allows them to gain industry-relevant skills and enter the workforce “in so little of time” (programs are typically around 7 months).
Common Criticisms
High Cost and Questionable ROI: The steep tuition (some reviews cite costs over $20,000) is a major source of complaint, especially when combined with reports of minimal job placement support for some graduates. Multiple reviewers note that a large percentage of their classmates are not employed as welders after graduation, leading to major concerns about the return on investment (ROI).
VA Accreditation Loss and Financial Dispute: A highly serious, recent criticism notes that the school “lost their VA accreditation,” causing a veteran student to withdraw and be subsequently sent a letter demanding payment, with the implied threat to “come back or pay.”
Aggressive/Deceptive Admissions Practices: One review noted a sudden change in demeanor from an Admissions Representative once the prospective student decided “to not commit right away,” suggesting aggressive sales tactics. Other historical reports mention recruiters allegedly lying about certifications or state requirements.
Poor Affiliated Housing Experience: Students using the affiliated housing (Ed-rent) reported a “horrible experience,” citing buildings that were “gross with bugs” and unexpected charges that were “not disclose[d] upfront,” making it “miserable to try to progress in life.”
Momentum
The momentum for Tulsa Welding School is mixed and volatile. While recent positive reviews confirm the ongoing strength of the hands-on instruction and the dedication of certain Career Services staff, the most severe recent complaints center on systemic and financial issues: the loss of VA accreditation, aggressive collections/enrollment threats, and housing problems. The high overall rating is maintained by the numerous positive experiences over time, but the recurring, serious nature of the recent negative reviews—particularly those concerning financial integrity and student support—indicates significant and ongoing organizational challenges.