Quick Facts

• Location: Janesville, Wisconsin
• Address: 6004 S County Rd G, Janesville, WI 53546
• School Type: Public Technical College
• Programs Offered: Welding, Automotive, Diesel & Heavy Equipment, HVAC/R, Industrial Maintenance, Automation, Electro-Mechanical Technology, CNC, Electrical Power Distribution, Manufacturing, Healthcare, IT and more
• Training Style: Hands-on labs combined with classroom, flexible and work-based learning
• Tuition Range: $157.45 per credit for Wisconsin residents in 2026–27, plus activity/material/program fees; complete trade programs commonly cost about $5,000–$14,000 before broader living expenses
• Program Length: Short certificates through 1- and 2-year technical diplomas and associate degrees
• Online Programs Available: Yes, selected courses and programs
• Hybrid Learning: Yes
• Financial Aid: FAFSA, grants, loans and other aid for qualifying programs
• Class Options: Face-to-face, live online, asynchronous online, hybrid, FlexLab and MyEdChoice depending on course
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.5 (133 Reviews)
• Website: Official website

Overview

Blackhawk Technical College is a public technical college serving southern Wisconsin from its Beloit-Janesville campus and other instructional locations. For skilled-trade students, its strongest areas include welding, automotive technology, diesel/heavy equipment, HVAC/R, industrial maintenance, automation and electro-mechanical technology.

One of Blackhawk’s major advantages is cost. Rather than charging private trade-school package prices of $20,000–$40,000, many of its trade diplomas currently have estimated tuition in roughly the $6,000–$11,000 range, while more advanced associate programs remain comparatively affordable.

The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Several individual occupational programs also carry field-specific accreditation or recognition.

Programs Offered

Trade and technical pathways include:

• Welding
• Welding Fabrication & Robotics
• Automotive Technician
• Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician
• HVAC/R
• Residential HVAC
• Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
• Electro-Mechanical Technology
• Automation Systems Technology
• CNC Technician
• CNC Machine Operator/Programmer
• Electrical Power Distribution
• Manufacturing-related programs
• Apprenticeship-related education

Welding

Blackhawk’s Welding technical diploma is a one-year, 29-credit program.

Training includes:

• Oxygen-fuel cutting
• Plasma arc cutting
• SMAW / Stick
• GMAW / MIG
• FCAW
• Metal-core welding
• GTAW / TIG
• Blueprint reading
• Layout and fabrication

Students work with structural steel, stainless steel, aluminum and other materials.

Current estimated tuition is approximately $7,029.

Students wanting more advanced automation and fabrication training can move into the Welding Fabrication & Robotics associate degree, currently estimated at $13,780.

Automotive Technician

Blackhawk’s Automotive Technician technical diploma currently lists an estimated tuition cost of $10,132.

Students learn factory-recommended maintenance, engine performance diagnosis, electrical systems and broader automotive service skills.

Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician

This two-year, 54-credit technical diploma prepares students to service heavy trucks and diesel-powered construction, agricultural and industrial equipment.

Training includes:

• Diesel engines
• Electrical/electronic systems
• Steering and suspension
• Brakes
• HVAC
• Drivetrains
• Hydraulic systems
• Computerized diagnostic equipment

Current estimated tuition is approximately $10,270.

HVAC/R

Blackhawk’s Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology program prepares students for work with residential and commercial climate-control systems.

Current estimated tuition is approximately $11,017. The program also includes an embedded Residential HVAC technical diploma.

Blackhawk notes that individual courses may be offered in face-to-face, online, hybrid, FlexLab or MyEdChoice formats, although HVAC students should expect significant in-person practical training.

Industrial Maintenance Mechanic

The Industrial Maintenance Mechanic pathway is a one-year, 32-credit technical diploma.

Students learn:

• Industrial equipment installation
• Machinery maintenance
• Troubleshooting
• Repair
• Electrical motors
• Control systems
• Rigging and lifting
• Blueprint reading
• Basic CAD and machine-shop applications

Current estimated tuition is $5,904. Blackhawk structures the program flexibly, with five-week modules and an approximate eight-hour weekly commitment.

Electro-Mechanical Technology

Students wanting broader automation and industrial-systems training can pursue the Electro-Mechanical Technology associate degree.

Training combines:

• Mechanics
• Fluid power
• Welding
• Industrial electrical systems
• Automation controls
• Integrated manufacturing systems

Current estimated tuition is approximately $10,782.

Tuition & Financial Aid

For 2026–27, Blackhawk publishes:

• Wisconsin resident tuition — $157.45 per credit
• Out-of-state tuition — $236.18 per credit
• Activity fee — $11.02 per credit
• Transportation fee — $20 per semester
• Technology fee — $15 per semester

Program-specific materials, tools, uniforms and testing charges can add additional costs.

Examples of current estimated tuition:

• Industrial Maintenance Mechanic — $5,904
• Welding — $7,029
• Automotive Technician — $10,132
• Diesel & Heavy Equipment — $10,270
• Electro-Mechanical Technology — $10,782
• HVAC/R — $11,017
• Welding Fabrication & Robotics — $13,780

Students in qualifying programs can complete the FAFSA. Blackhawk specifically lists Welding, Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Power Distribution and several other technical diplomas as financial-aid eligible, although some shorter programs and apprenticeships have limited or no federal-aid eligibility.

Online & Hybrid Learning

Blackhawk is notably flexible for a technical college.

Depending on the course, students may encounter:

• Face-to-face classes
• Live online instruction
• Online anytime/asynchronous learning
• Hybrid courses
• FlexLab
• MyEdChoice, which can allow students to switch between in-person and online attendance for certain classes

Hands-on trade courses still require practical lab work, so students should not assume an entire welding, automotive, diesel or HVAC program can be completed remotely.

Why Students Choose This School

• Low public technical-college tuition
• Strong welding and fabrication programs
• Diesel and heavy-equipment specialization
• Automotive training
• HVAC/R pathway
• Industrial maintenance and automation
• Flexible class-delivery formats
• Associate-degree progression opportunities
• Federal financial aid for many programs
• HLC institutional accreditation

Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue entry-level positions such as:

• Welder/Fabricator
• Robotic Welding Technician
• Automotive Technician
• Diesel Mechanic
• Heavy Equipment Technician
• HVAC/R Technician
• Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
• Electro-Mechanical Technician
• Automation Technician
• CNC Operator or Technician

Some occupations may require additional licensing, apprenticeship or certification.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied listing data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.5 (133 Reviews)

That is a solid rating with a meaningful number of reviews. Because Blackhawk offers many unrelated programs, prospective students should look specifically for recent feedback from students in welding, HVAC, automotive or whichever pathway they are considering.

Enrollment Tips

Compare embedded and stackable credentials before enrolling. For example, students interested in industrial technology may be able to start with a shorter technical diploma and later continue into an associate degree.

Also look beyond tuition alone. Welding, automotive, diesel and HVAC students should ask for the full estimate covering tools, uniforms, testing, materials and other program-specific expenses before registering.

Bottom Line

Blackhawk Technical College is a strong value for students in southern Wisconsin seeking hands-on skilled-trade education without private-school tuition levels. Welding starts at roughly $7,000 in estimated tuition, industrial maintenance around $5,900, and even advanced diesel, HVAC and electro-mechanical pathways generally remain near $10,000–$11,000 in current published tuition estimates. Its flexible learning options and strong selection of manufacturing and mechanical programs make it one of the more useful Wisconsin schools to feature prominently on TradeSchoolScout.