Quick Facts

• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Address: 1501 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
• School Type: Public Community & Technical College / Minnesota State
• Programs Offered: Welding & Metal Fabrication, HVAC/R, CNC Machining, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Bicycle Assembly & Repair and other career programs
• Training Style: Hands-on labs, certificates, diplomas and AAS degrees
• Tuition Range: 2026–27 general tuition $193.85/credit + $30.76/credit standard fees; Welding tuition $210.76/credit + standard fees
• Program Length: Short certificates through approximately 2-year associate degrees
• Online Programs Available: Yes, selected college programs/courses
• Hybrid Learning: Available college-wide; core trade programs primarily require hands-on/on-campus work
• Financial Aid: FAFSA, grants, scholarships, work-study and loans for qualifying students
• Class Options: Day/evening options available in selected programs, including Welding
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.0 (258 Reviews)
• Website: Official Minneapolis College website

Overview

Minneapolis College combines a large urban community college with a dedicated School of Trade Technologies. Its current trade lineup includes Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Bicycle Assembly & Repair Technician, CNC Machinist, HVAC/R and Welding & Metal Fabrication.

For TradeSchoolScout, the strongest listings are Welding, HVAC/R and CNC Machining. The downtown Minneapolis location also makes the college a valuable option for students who want public technical education without traveling to a suburban technical campus.

Programs Offered

Current School of Trade Technologies programs include:

• Welding & Metal Fabrication
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
• CNC Machinist
• Aircraft Maintenance Technician
• Bicycle Assembly & Repair Technician

Welding & Metal Fabrication

Minneapolis College offers three welding credentials:

• 27-credit Certificate — about 1 year
• 45-credit Diploma
• 60-credit AAS

The one-year certificate can be completed through day or evening classes, which is particularly useful for working students.

Training covers:

• SMAW
• GMAW
• FCAW
• GTAW
• Oxy-fuel cutting
• Plasma cutting
• Blueprint reading
• Welding symbols
• Shop fabrication
• Precision measurement

Students can also perform welder qualification testing to American Welding Society standards, and AWS scholarships may be available.

HVAC/R

Minneapolis College has an especially comprehensive HVAC/R ladder:

• HVAC-R Generalist Certificate — 19 credits
• Residential HVAC Diploma — 42 credits
• Residential & Commercial HVAC-R Diploma — 57 credits
• HVAC-R AAS — 72 credits

Students learn to diagnose, maintain and repair residential and commercial HVAC/R systems while working with:

• Electrical controls
• Refrigeration systems
• Sheet metal
• Copper, steel and plastic piping
• Air-measurement equipment
• Heat-recovery ventilators
• Indoor-air-quality equipment

Students take EPA, OSHA and ESCO employment-ready examinations during training.

The HVAC/R program has also received programmatic accreditation from HVAC Excellence.

Tuition & Financial Aid

For 2026–27, Minneapolis College publishes:

• General courses — $193.85/credit
• Online courses — $198.60/credit
• Welding courses — $210.76/credit

Standard college fees add another $30.76 per credit.

That puts a typical welding course at approximately $241.52 per credit before books, supplies and special course expenses.

Financial assistance is available to qualifying students through federal and state aid, scholarships and other college programs.

Women entering technical programs should also investigate the college’s We Thrive Scholarship Program, which can provide eligible students with scholarships, mentorship, leadership development and career support.

Why Students Choose This School

• Downtown Minneapolis location
• One-year welding certificate
• Day and evening welding options
• Extensive HVAC/R credential ladder
• HVAC Excellence accreditation
• CNC machining program
• Aircraft maintenance training
• Public-college tuition
• AWS certification opportunities
• Certificate-to-AAS pathways

Career Opportunities

Depending on training, graduates may pursue positions such as:

• Welder
• Metal Fabricator
• Pipefitter/Welding Trainee
• HVAC Technician
• Refrigeration Technician
• Building Maintenance Technician
• CNC Machinist
• Machine Operator
• Aircraft Maintenance Technician

Certification and licensing requirements vary by occupation.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.0 (258 Reviews)

This is a large college with many non-trade programs, so the overall Google rating should not be interpreted as a rating specifically for welding or HVAC.

Enrollment Tips

Students interested in welding should compare the 27-credit certificate against the 45-credit diploma and 60-credit AAS. The certificate offers the fastest route, while the longer pathways provide broader preparation.

HVAC students have an even wider choice—from a 19-credit Generalist certificate through a 72-credit AAS.

That makes Minneapolis College particularly good for students who want to start with a short credential and potentially stack additional education later.

Bottom Line

Minneapolis College is a strong TradeSchoolScout listing, especially for welding, HVAC/R and CNC machining. Its 27-credit welding certificate can be completed in about a year, while its HVAC program offers credentials ranging from a 19-credit certificate to a 72-credit AAS. Combined with public-college tuition and a central Minneapolis location, it deserves prominent placement on the Minnesota page.