Quick Facts

• Location: Springfield, Missouri
• Address: 1001 E Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO 65802
• School Type: Public Community & Technical College
• Programs Offered: Welding, Automotive, Diesel, Auto Collision, Construction, HVAC/R, Electrical Technician, Electrical Distribution/Lineworker, Plumbing, Precision Machining, Mechatronics, Automation & Robotics, Aviation Maintenance and more
• Training Style: Hands-on labs with short-term training, certificates and AAS degrees
• Tuition Range: Current tuition $140–$163/credit in-district, $206–$225 out-of-district, and $263–$284 out-of-state, depending on course tier, plus mandatory per-credit and semester fees
• Program Length: 20-week training through approximately 2-year AAS programs
• Online Programs Available: Yes college-wide
• Hybrid Learning: Selected coursework; most core trade instruction includes substantial on-campus lab work
• Financial Aid: Federal/state aid, scholarships and other assistance for qualifying students
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.2 (259 Reviews)
• Website: Official Ozarks Tech website

Overview

Ozarks Technical Community College—now commonly branded Ozarks Tech—is one of the broadest public skilled-trades options in southwest Missouri. Its Springfield campus offers programs across construction, transportation, manufacturing, utilities and aviation, including welding, automotive, diesel, HVAC/R, electrical, plumbing, machining, automation and lineworker training.

For TradeSchoolScout, Ozarks Tech deserves featured placement because students can choose everything from a 20-week intensive welding program to one-year certificates and two-year associate degrees.

Programs Offered

Major Springfield trade programs include:

• Welding Technology
• Automotive Technology
• Auto Collision Repair
• Diesel Technology
• Construction Technology
• Electrical Technician
• Electrical Distribution Systems
• Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
• Plumbing Technology
• Precision Machining Technology
• Mechatronics
• Automation & Robotics
• Aviation Airframe & Powerplant

Welding Technology

Ozarks Tech has one of the more flexible welding structures in Missouri.

Students can choose:

• 20-week Industrial Welding Specialist — 34 credits
• 1-year Structural Welding Certificate — 32 credits
• 1-year Stainless Welding Certificate — 32 credits
• 2-year Structural Welding AAS — 63 credits
• 2-year Stainless Welding AAS — 63 credits

Training includes:

• SMAW
• GTAW
• GMAW
• FCAW
• Oxy-fuel cutting
• Plasma cutting
• Carbon-arc cutting/gouging
• Blueprint reading
• Fabrication
• Welding inspection

The Springfield welding lab is an American Welding Society Accredited Testing Facility.

Current published estimated program costs are approximately:

• One-year certificate — $7,565–$9,549
• 20-week intensive pathway — $8,565–$10,673
• Two-year AAS — $14,370–$18,336

Actual cost depends partly on residency and program requirements.

Automotive Technology

Automotive Technology offers:

• 32-credit Certificate — about 1 year
• 63-credit AAS — about 2 years

Students work on actual vehicles while studying:

• Engines
• Brakes
• Engine performance
• Transmissions
• Electrical/electronic systems
• Diagnosis and repair
• Customer-service procedures

The AAS program is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation.

Electrical Distribution Systems

Ozarks Tech also offers a specialized utility/lineworker pathway.

Students learn to:

• Climb wood poles
• Operate utility equipment
• Build electrical-distribution systems
• Maintain overhead infrastructure
• Follow utility safety procedures

The program is designed to prepare students for entry into utility apprenticeship employment. Enrollment is limited and admission is competitive.

HVAC/R, Electrical & Plumbing

The Springfield technical division also offers:

• Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
• Electrical Technician
• Plumbing Technology
• Construction Technology

These programs complement Ozarks Tech’s broader construction-trades offerings and make the school useful for students who want a public-college alternative to private HVAC or electrical schools.

Precision Machining, Mechatronics & Automation

Advanced-manufacturing programs include:

• Precision Machining Technology
• Automation & Robotics
• Mechatronics
• Manufacturing Technology

These pathways focus on the machines, controls and automated systems used in modern manufacturing.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Ozarks Tech uses three tuition tiers.

Current rates are:

In-District
• Tier I — $140/credit
• Tier II — $153
• Tier III — $163

Out-of-District
• Tier I — $206/credit
• Tier II — $215
• Tier III — $225

Out-of-State
• Tier I — $263/credit
• Tier II — $275
• Tier III — $284

Mandatory fees include:

• Registration — $52/semester
• Student fee — $17/credit
• Technology fee — $20/credit
• Facilities/infrastructure — $5/credit
• Security fee — $4/credit

Program-specific course fees, tools and supplies may be additional.

Accreditation

Ozarks Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its next comprehensive institutional evaluation scheduled for 2030–31.

Individual programs also carry specialized recognition, including AWS certification of the Springfield welding lab and ASE Education Foundation accreditation for Automotive Technology.

Why Students Choose This School

• Very broad skilled-trades catalog
• Public community-college pricing
• 20-week welding pathway
• AWS Accredited Testing Facility
• Automotive program accredited by ASE Education Foundation
• Dedicated electrical lineworker program
• HVAC, electrical and plumbing training
• Diesel and collision repair
• Precision machining and robotics
• Short certificates plus two-year AAS options

Career Opportunities

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

• Welder/Fabricator
• Automotive Technician
• Diesel Technician
• Collision Repair Technician
• HVAC Technician
• Electrician Apprentice
• Lineworker Apprentice
• Plumbing Apprentice
• CNC Machinist
• Mechatronics Technician
• Automation Technician
• Aviation Maintenance Technician

Licensing and apprenticeship requirements apply where relevant.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google listing:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.2 (259 Reviews)

This is a college-wide rating across a very large range of academic and technical programs, so applicants should look specifically for reviews concerning their intended department.

Enrollment Tips

Welding students should compare the 20-week intensive certificate with the one-year and two-year options. The 20-week route is designed for faster workforce entry, while the AAS adds advanced welding, inspection and general-education coursework.

Students interested in linework should apply early because Electrical Distribution Systems has limited, competitive enrollment.

Residency also matters significantly. An in-district student taking a Tier I course pays $140 per credit in tuition, while an out-of-state student pays $263 before mandatory fees.

Bottom Line

Ozarks Technical Community College should be a top featured trade-school option for Missouri. It offers one of the strongest combinations of welding, automotive, diesel, HVAC, electrical, lineworker, plumbing, machining and automation training in southwest Missouri. The 20-week welding option is particularly attractive for fast entry, while the public-college tuition structure makes Ozarks Tech worth comparing against private career schools in Springfield.