Southwest College for the Deaf

Southwest College for the Deaf is a public two-year college located in Big Spring, Texas. The college serves the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, providing accessible vocational education in a supportive environment. It offers a certificate program in Welding Engineering Technology/Technician, a one-to-two-year credential designed to prepare students for careers in welding fabrication, inspection, and related technical fields.

The college enrolls 84 students (IPEDS 2023), maintaining an intimate campus with a strong completion rate of 80% (IPEDS 2023). The retention rate stands at 67% (IPEDS 2023), meaning roughly two-thirds of first-time students return for their second year. As a public institution, the college offers an accessible tuition structure for Texas residents.

Southwest College for the Deaf holds a quality score of 62.33 out of 100. This institution fills a unique role in the national vocational landscape by providing trade education specifically designed for Deaf students, offering a welding technology pathway that leads directly into skilled trade employment.