Quick Facts

• Location: Grand Island, Nebraska
• Address: 3134 W Highway 34, Grand Island, NE 68802
• School Type: Public Community & Technical College
• Programs Offered: Welding Technology, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology, Automotive Technology and numerous additional career programs within the CCC system
• Training Style: Hands-on laboratories, certificates, diplomas, AAS degrees and registered-apprenticeship pathways
• Tuition Range: $102 tuition + $16 fees = $118/credit in 2026–27, with the same published rate for Nebraska residents and nonresidents
• Program Length: Short certificates through approximately 2-year associate degrees
• Online Programs Available: Yes
• Hybrid Learning: Selected courses/programs; major technical programs include hands-on training
• Financial Aid: FAFSA, Pell Grants, loans, scholarships and GAP workforce assistance for qualifying students/programs
• FAFSA School Code: 014468
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.4 (67 Reviews)
• Website: Official Central Community College website

Overview

Central Community College’s Grand Island campus is a major career and technical education hub serving central Nebraska. The campus currently advertises 22 career and technical programs, alongside transfer education and general academic offerings.

For TradeSchoolScout, the most relevant programs include Welding Technology, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology and advanced manufacturing, with additional CCC technical pathways available across the college’s other campuses and centers.

The Grand Island campus is particularly attractive because CCC’s 2026–27 tuition is unusually straightforward: residents and nonresidents currently pay the same standard $118 per credit including fees.

Programs Offered

Relevant trade and technical pathways include:

• Welding Technology
• Mechatronics
• Electrical Technology
• General Manufacturing
• Drafting & Design Technology
• Automotive-related training within the CCC system
• Construction-related training
• Professional Truck Driving
• Apprenticeship-connected technical education

Welding Technology

CCC’s Welding Technology program is offered at Grand Island, Columbus and Hastings. Students may pursue a certificate, diploma or Associate of Applied Science degree.

Training includes:

• Oxyacetylene welding and cutting
• GMAW / MIG
• SMAW / Stick
• GTAW / TIG
• Blueprint reading
• Welding codes
• Robotic welding
• Fabrication

CCC also provides welding-certification opportunities and experience with robotic welding technology.

This makes Grand Island a strong choice for students seeking either short-term welding credentials or a broader AAS pathway.

Mechatronics

Mechatronics is available at Grand Island and combines mechanical, electrical and automated manufacturing systems.

Students can choose among:

• Short certificates
• Mechatronics Diploma
• Mechatronics AAS

Specializations include areas such as:

• Electromechanical systems
• Industrial maintenance
• Automation
• Instrumentation
• Process control
• Manufacturing systems

The diploma is intended to prepare students for entry-level industrial maintenance and automation work, while the AAS allows further specialization.

Apprenticeship Training

CCC also maintains registered-apprenticeship connections in occupations including:

• Electrical Technology
• Mechatronics Technician
• Construction Technology
• CNC Operator
• Diesel Technician
• Welding, Combination
• Welding Machine Operator-Arc

This can be especially valuable for students who want formal education tied directly to employer-based career development.

Tuition & Financial Aid

For 2026–27, CCC publishes:

• Tuition — $102/credit
• Fees — $16/credit
• Total — $118/credit

The same rate is currently shown for Nebraska residents, nonresidents and Midwest Student Exchange participants.

For 30 credits over two semesters, CCC estimates tuition and fees at approximately $3,540.

Program costs can rise considerably once specialized tools and equipment are added. For example, some automotive, auto-body and advanced-manufacturing programs require thousands of dollars in tools and safety equipment, so students should request an exact cost sheet for their chosen program.

CCC reports more than $2.7 million in scholarships annually, and says 97% of students receive some type of financial aid. FAFSA code: 014468.

The Nebraska GAP Assistance Program can also support qualifying short-term training in areas such as welding, electrical/industrial maintenance, machining and construction.

Accreditation

Central Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its accreditation was reaffirmed in July 2025, with the next reaffirmation scheduled for 2034–35.

Why Students Choose This School

• Strong Grand Island technical campus
• Certificate-to-AAS welding pathways
• Mechatronics and automation
• Electrical and apprenticeship opportunities
• Robotic welding experience
• Very affordable 2026–27 tuition
• Same standard tuition for residents and nonresidents
• Federal financial aid and scholarships
• GAP workforce assistance for eligible training

Career Opportunities

Depending on the program, graduates may pursue positions such as:

• Welder/Fabricator
• Welding Machine Operator
• Electrical Technician
• Electrician Apprentice
• Mechatronics Technician
• Industrial Maintenance Technician
• Automation Technician
• Instrumentation Technician
• Manufacturing Technician
• CNC Operator

Licensing and apprenticeship requirements may apply.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google listing:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.4 (67 Reviews)

Students should focus on recent reviews that mention the Grand Island technical programs rather than assuming the rating represents each CCC campus equally.

Enrollment Tips

Grand Island students should verify that their exact credential is delivered at this campus because CCC operates campuses and learning centers throughout central Nebraska.

For welding and mechatronics, compare the certificate, diploma and AAS options rather than automatically choosing the longest pathway. A shorter credential may be sufficient for fast entry-level employment, while the AAS can provide broader technical and general-education preparation.

Bottom Line

Central Community College — Grand Island is a strong featured Nebraska trade-school choice, particularly for welding, mechatronics, automation and apprenticeship-related technical training. Its current 2026–27 rate of only $118 per credit including standard fees gives it one of the clearest value propositions among the Nebraska schools.