FINANCING
Getting your money’s worth
KWI tuition includes all the metal, electrodes, and gases your welder can handle and with more instructional and weld time than our competitors; that’s more welding for the KWI student. In addition, a complete single-hand set of tools will be all you need to land your first job and start earning a living.
“Whenever I started at KWI I knew one thing, I wanted to be a pipe welder. It seemed as if I had a long way to go considering I couldn’t even walk the cup. However, with the incredible instructors and all the weld time I could ever ask for, I made my dream a reality. Now I walk the cup around pipe every day and I love every second of it. Its amazing how within 6 months you can be out and on the job making money. It was worth every penny. Not many schools can get you on a job where you make $18,000 your first 6 weeks out of school. I was able to pay off my tuition within 2 months of graduating. You have to be a cut above the rest to make it in this field, no worries though. KWI goes above and beyond to get you there.”
Austin Arnett
KWI Graduate
Unlike our competitors, KWI offers expensive certifications that carry weight on a resume including:
- American Welding Society
- National Center for Construction Education and Research
- National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators
- Occupational Safety and Health Organization
- American Safety and Health Institute
- Mine Safety Health Organization.
On staff, KWI has industry working welding professionals. Paying our instructors a wage to keep them off the road isn’t cheap. As a KWI student you will receive the benefit of learning from and working with experienced welding professionals fresh out of compressor stations, power plants, paper mills, and other industry areas. The advantage of having real world experience and insight is invaluable and worth the investment for KWI students’ success.
FINANCING
As a new institution, KWI is restricted from accepting title 4 funding including FAFSA. Federal law requires minimum time requirements and an application process that KWI will undergo when eligible. At the present time, enrolling students use personal loans backed with co-signing guardians and/or collateral. KWI does credit your KEES money and accepts private scholarships, Department of Labor- TAA/WIOA assistance, and VA benefits.
As a proud supporter of Kentucky Skills USA and Kentucky FFA, the Kentucky Welding Institute awards scholarships to winning welding competitors throughout the school year at regional and state competitions. KWI also supports the SKILLS USA National Welding Competitions.
KWI grads gain 18 months of employment, experience, and earnings over their community college peers. KWI Combo Pipe Welder Program grads average $30+/hour. Do the math on 18 months of earnings.
Here are the facts:
- Longer programs cost your welder time and earning potential.
- KWI actively seeks employment for your welder.
What do you need to seek financing
- KY High School Students investigate KEES money earnings.
- KWI can take VA GI Bill Benefits.
- Workforce Development Grants (WIOA).
- Local or State Scholarships.
- Students should seek additional resources through their local or financial institutes.
Here are some additional resources:
- Mike Rowe Works Foundation Scholarship: Work Ethic Scholarships (mikeroweworks.org) Scholarships open early Spring.
- American Welding Society (AWS) Scholarship: Scholarships : Foundation : American Welding Society (aws.org) On-going scholarships available.
- SkillPointe Foundation Scholarship: Home | SkillPointe Foundation On-going scholarships available.
- National FFA Scholarships: Apply for FFA Scholarships! – National FFA Organization Open November 1st to January 1st.
- Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Scholarship: Scholarships for Manufacturing Courses and Programs (nutsandboltsfoundation.org) Open in the Fall and Spring.
- KHEEA: KHEAA :: Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority KWI accepts Kentucky Students KEES money that is awarded during your high school career. Official letters from KHEAA are required to be submitted.
- VA GI Bill: How To Apply For The GI Bill And Related Benefits | Veterans Affairs (va.gov) KWI is eligible to accept GI benefits. Students will need to apply for their letter of eligibility and submit to the KWI admin SCO for review of benefits.
- Workforce Development Grant: WIOA Workforce Programs | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov) ,Youth – Kentucky Career Center Kentucky residents can apply for grants with the WIOA workforce. Please check for the office in your region to speak to a representative. Out of state students can check with their states workforce grants to see if out of state transfers are available.