Quick Facts

• Location: Beloit, Kansas
• Address: 3033 US-24, Beloit, KS 67420
• Former Name: North Central Kansas Technical College / NCK Tech
• School Type: Public Technical College
• Programs Offered: Welding, Automotive Technology, Diesel Technology, Electrical Technology, Plumbing/HVAC, Construction Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation, Agricultural Equipment Technology, Automotive Collision, Powersports and more
• Training Style: Hands-on shop instruction, certificates and associate-degree pathways
• Tuition Range: $238 per technical credit and $181 per general-education credit; full-program costs vary substantially
• Program Length: Short-term certificates through 1- and 2-year programs
• Online Programs Available: Yes, primarily general education and selected courses
• Hybrid Learning: Limited for core hands-on trades
• Financial Aid: FAFSA, Pell Grants, loans, work-study, Kansas state aid and scholarships for qualifying students
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission / Kansas Board of Regents
• FAFSA School Code: 005265
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.3 (25 Reviews)
• Website: Official Fort Hays Tech North Central website

Overview

The school in your Google data as NCK Technical College now operates as Fort Hays Tech | North Central. The Beloit campus remains at 3033 US Highway 24 and continues to provide a large selection of hands-on technical programs.

The college’s strongest TradeSchoolScout programs include welding, electrical, automotive, diesel, plumbing/HVAC, construction and heavy-equipment training. Its current program lineup also includes agricultural equipment, collision repair and powersports technology.

The name change developed from the strategic affiliation involving the former North Central Kansas Technical College, Fort Hays State University and Northwest Kansas Technical College.

Programs Offered

Beloit’s current trade offerings include:

• Welding Technology
• Automotive Technology
• Diesel Technology
• Electrical Technology
• Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
• Construction Technology
• Heavy Equipment Operation
• Agricultural Equipment Technology
• Auto Collision & Refinishing
• Powersports Technology

Welding Technology

Welding is a one-year program available at Beloit and Hays. Students receive specialized training in:

• SMAW
• GMAW/MIG
• FCAW
• GTAW/TIG
• Oxy-fuel welding and cutting
• Plasma cutting
• Pipe welding
• Blueprint reading
• Fabrication

Students can work with carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum and may pursue AWS certification testing in positions including 1F, 2F and 1G.

For 2026–27, the Beloit welding program’s published estimated cost is $17,260, consisting of:

• Tuition and fees — $12,280
• Books/supplies — $2,180
• Tools — $2,800

Automotive Technology

Automotive Technology is a two-year AAS pathway covering brakes, electrical systems, fuel systems, electronic transmissions, drivetrain systems and alternative-fuel vehicles. Internships with employers are also available.

Current Beloit 2026–27 estimates are:

Year 1
• Tuition/fees — $9,370
• Books/supplies — $2,040
• Tools — $6,500
• Estimated total — $17,910

Year 2
• Tuition/fees — $8,350
• Books/supplies — $1,160
• Estimated total — $9,510

Students should pay particular attention to tool costs, which make the first year substantially more expensive.

Diesel Technology

Diesel Technology is another major Beloit program.

For 2026–27:

Year 1: approximately $25,090 total, including $14,000 in estimated tools.

Year 2: approximately $9,590.

The large first-year tool requirement makes this one of the school’s more expensive programs upfront.

Electrical Technology

Electrical Technology is available at Beloit and is structured as a multi-year technical pathway.

For 2026–27, Beloit’s published costs are:

Year 1
• Tuition/fees — $9,100
• Books/supplies — $1,730
• Tools — $1,790
• Total — $12,620

Year 2
• Tuition/fees — $9,740
• Books/supplies — $1,340
• Total — $11,080

Students should verify apprenticeship and local licensing requirements separately before assuming completion alone qualifies them for journeyman status.

Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

The Beloit PHAC program combines plumbing and HVAC rather than separating them into entirely different schools.

Training includes:

• Refrigeration cycle
• Electrical theory
• Plumbing code
• High- and low-voltage circuits
• Gas heating
• Drain/waste/vent systems
• Water distribution

Credential opportunities include:

• OSHA 10
• EPA 608 Universal
• NCCER credentials

For 2026–27, Beloit’s estimated program cost is $16,880, including $11,780 tuition/fees, $1,600 in books/supplies and $3,500 in tools.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Current college-wide rates are:

• Technical courses — $238 per credit
• General-education courses — $181 per credit
• Online courses — $189 per credit
• Concurrent courses — $50 per credit

Additional program fees and tools can apply.

The college has done a particularly good job publishing 2026–27 total program estimates, which makes it easier for prospective students to compare the real cost rather than tuition alone.

Financial assistance includes:

• Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
• Federal Work-Study
• Subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans
• PLUS loans
• Kansas state aid
• Scholarships
• Veterans benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation assistance

FAFSA school code: 005265.

Accreditation

Fort Hays Tech | North Central is institutionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission and recognized through the Kansas Board of Regents.

Several individual programs also hold specialized approvals or industry recognition.

Why Students Choose This School

• Strong traditional skilled-trades focus
• Welding, diesel, automotive and electrical under one roof
• Plumbing and HVAC combined pathway
• Heavy-equipment training
• Detailed 2026–27 program cost estimates
• One-year welding option
• Two-year automotive pathway
• Federal and state financial aid
• Online general-education options

Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue entry-level careers such as:

• Welder/Fabricator
• Pipe Welder
• Automotive Technician
• Diesel Technician
• Heavy Equipment Technician
• Electrical Technician
• Electrician Apprentice
• HVAC Technician
• Plumbing Apprentice
• Agricultural Equipment Technician
• Collision Repair Technician

Licensing and apprenticeship requirements vary by occupation.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google listing:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.3 (25 Reviews)

The Google listing still uses the older NCK Technical College identity, so students should be aware of the current Fort Hays Tech | North Central name when researching recent information.

Enrollment Tips

The biggest thing prospective students should compare is total cost including tools, not tuition alone. For example, 2026–27 first-year Diesel Technology costs approximately $25,090 largely because the school estimates about $14,000 in required tools. Welding’s complete one-year estimate is approximately $17,260.

Students should also confirm whether their desired program is offered at Beloit, Hays or both, because the new Fort Hays Tech | North Central organization operates both locations.

Bottom Line

Fort Hays Tech | North Central’s Beloit campus is absolutely worth featuring prominently on the Kansas page. Formerly known as NCK Tech, it remains a serious hands-on technical college with particularly strong programs in welding, automotive, diesel, electrical, HVAC/plumbing and heavy equipment. Its biggest advantage for TradeSchoolScout is the unusually transparent 2026–27 program-by-program cost information, which lets students see tuition, books and tools before enrolling.