Quick Facts

• Location: Alexandria, Minnesota
• Address: 1601 Jefferson St, Alexandria, MN 56308
• School Type: Public Technical & Community College / Minnesota State
• Programs Offered: Welding Technology, Diesel Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Mechatronics, Carpentry, Professional Truck Driver, Marine/Motorcycle/Powersports Technician, Mechanical Drafting and other career programs
• Training Style: Extensive lab/shop instruction, internships, diplomas and AAS degrees
• Tuition Range: 2026–27 on-campus $230.06/credit including standard fees; online $249.37/credit
• Program Length: One-year Welding through approximately two-year technical diplomas/AAS degrees
• Online Programs Available: Yes
• Hybrid Learning: Program-dependent; major trades are primarily hands-on
• Financial Aid: FAFSA, grants, scholarships, loans and work-study
• FAFSA School Code: 005544
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.7 (70 Reviews)
• Website: Official Alexandria Technical & Community College website

Overview

Alexandria Technical & Community College is one of the strongest technical-school listings in greater Minnesota. Its trade programs include welding, diesel mechanics, machining, mechatronics, carpentry, professional truck driving and powersports technology, with many programs maintaining close ties to regional employers and industry organizations.

The school is especially strong in advanced manufacturing. Machine Tool Technology and Mechatronics provide pathways into CNC machining, automation, industrial maintenance, fluid power and PLC-based manufacturing systems.

Programs Offered

Trade-focused programs include:

• Welding Technology
• Diesel Mechanics
• Machine Tool Technology
• Mechatronics
• Carpentry
• Marine, Motorcycle & Powersports Technician
• Professional Truck Driver
• Mechanical Drafting, Design & Engineering Technology

Welding Technology

Alexandria’s Welding Technology diploma is a 44-credit program structured across fall, spring and summer terms.

Students train in:

• SMAW / Stick
• GMAW / MIG
• GTAW / TIG
• Oxy-acetylene welding
• Thermal cutting
• Blueprint reading
• Metallurgy
• Advanced welding processes
• Welding qualification testing

The program includes an internship and dedicated welding-qualification coursework.

A major advantage is on-campus certification testing. One of ATCC’s welding instructors is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector, allowing students to test for and receive qualifying certifications through the program without leaving campus.

ATCC describes Welding as a one-year certification-testing program.

Diesel Mechanics

Diesel Mechanics provides hands-on training involving:

• Highway trucks
• Agricultural equipment
• Heavy equipment
• Current diesel technology

The program maintains an industry partnership with Caterpillar through Ziegler, Inc. and is designed to produce technicians capable of working across transportation, farming, construction, mining, logging, power generation and related industries.

Students can choose a Diesel Mechanics diploma or AAS pathway.

The program is accredited by the AED Foundation, with its current good-standing status extending to its next review in Spring 2028.

Machine Tool Technology

Machine Tool Technology provides extensive precision-machining training using:

• Manual lathes
• Vertical milling machines
• Surface grinders
• CNC machining centers
• CNC turning centers
• Wire EDM
• Sinker EDM
• CAD/CAM software
• Precision inspection equipment

Students also study blueprint reading, tooling, materials and precise setup procedures.

The current curriculum progresses into CNC, CAD, CAM, metrology, mold theory, jig/fixture design and advanced CNC machining.

Mechatronics

Mechatronics combines:

• Mechanical systems
• Electrical systems
• Electronics
• Fluid power
• Instrumentation
• PLCs
• Automation
• Manufacturing technology

Students can choose:

• 66-credit Diploma
• 72-credit AAS

Advanced coursework includes hydraulics, programmable logic controllers, electrical design, manufacturing automation and industrial distribution.

The program has an unusually strong SkillsUSA history; ATCC notes its students have won 13 national SkillsUSA Mechatronics championships over a 19-year period.

Carpentry

Carpentry is an extensive 72-credit diploma rather than a short introductory certificate.

Training covers:

• Framing
• Foundations and concrete
• Cabinetmaking
• Blueprint reading
• Architectural drafting
• Estimating
• Construction management
• Computerized architectural drafting
• Construction safety
• Minnesota construction law
• Internship experience

Students gain practical experience through shop projects including cabinetry, new-home construction, light commercial construction and remodeling.

Tuition & Financial Aid

For 2026–27, ATCC charges:

On Campus
• Tuition — $203.65/credit
• Fees — $26.40/credit
• Total — $230.06/credit

Online
• Tuition — $234.04/credit
• Fees — $15.33/credit
• Total — $249.37/credit

The college does not charge a separate general nonresident/out-of-state tuition rate, although individual courses can have different rates.

Its 2026–27 standard nine-month cost-of-attendance estimate uses $6,902 for tuition and fees and $1,570 for books, supplies, course materials and equipment.

Financial assistance includes:

• Scholarships
• Grants
• Federal loans
• Work-study

FAFSA school code: 005544.

Accreditation

Alexandria Technical & Community College maintains institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.

Certain individual programs, including Diesel Mechanics, carry additional specialized accreditation.

Why Students Choose This School

• Strong traditional technical-college focus
• One-year Welding program
• AWS certification testing opportunities
• AEDF-accredited Diesel Mechanics
• Advanced CNC machining facilities
• Strong Mechatronics and PLC training
• Extensive two-year Carpentry program
• Powersports training
• Professional truck-driver training
• Transparent 2026–27 tuition

Career Opportunities

Depending on program, graduates may pursue entry-level positions such as:

• Welder/Fabricator
• Diesel Technician
• Heavy Equipment Technician
• CNC Machinist
• Tool & Die Technician
• Industrial Maintenance Technician
• Mechatronics Technician
• Automation/PLC Technician
• Carpenter
• Cabinetmaker
• Powersports Technician
• Commercial Truck Driver

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.7 (70 Reviews)

That is one of the stronger ratings among the Minnesota technical colleges you’ve supplied so far, with a more meaningful review sample than schools with only a handful of reviews.

Enrollment Tips

Students interested in manufacturing should compare Machine Tool Technology and Mechatronics carefully. Machine Tool is primarily focused on precision machining, CNC, CAD/CAM and tooling, while Mechatronics combines electrical, mechanical, fluid-power and automation systems.

Welding applicants should note that the 44-credit program runs across fall, spring and summer and includes an internship and qualification testing.

Students should also complete the FAFSA early and investigate scholarships. ATCC’s FAFSA code is 005544.

Bottom Line

Alexandria Technical & Community College should be one of the featured trade schools on your Minnesota page. It is especially strong in welding, diesel, CNC machining, mechatronics and carpentry, with legitimate hands-on facilities and specialized industry connections. At $230.06 per on-campus credit including standard 2026–27 fees, it also gives prospective students a clear public-college price point for comparing programs.