Career Training Path › Arizona › Western Maricopa Education Center
Western Maricopa Education Center
Glendale, Arizona · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 6997 N Glen Harbor Blvd, Glendale, AZ 85307 · Phone: (623) 738-0022 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Jun 2025 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · Council on Occupational Education; Dec 2025 · Accreditation Reaffirmed: Warning Removed. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Western Maricopa Education Center is a public trade school in Glendale, AZ offering welding, aviation maintenance, and HVAC programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
The state average completion rate is 64.4%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; this campus's own completion rate, debt, and earnings figures are not reported for this campus.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Western Maricopa Education Center; federal financial aid (Title IV) can be used here, and about 36.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $39,970 | $55,600 | $65,660 |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $48,290 | $75,300 | $86,990 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $37,950 | $59,400 | $73,810 |
| Pharmacy technicians | $39,040 | $47,640 | $54,060 |
| Machinists | $40,290 | $61,080 | $66,460 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Arizona (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 40 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 2–4 years | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) is a public trade and career training campus in Glendale, Arizona, located in a large suburban setting. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and is approved for federal financial aid (Title IV), meaning eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid to help pay for programs. The campus offers seven program families, with the top programs being welding schools (45 completers), aviation maintenance (A&P) schools (25 completers), and HVAC schools (15 completers).
West-MEC reports 107 trade completers against an undergraduate enrollment of 245. The state average completion rate is 64.4%, but this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Median debt of graduates and median earnings 10 years after entry are also not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 36.9% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a meaningful share of the student population qualifies for need-based aid.
Based on the program mix — welding, aviation maintenance, HVAC, pharmacy technician, and CNC machining — this campus appears geared toward hands-on, occupational training rather than long academic degree programs, which may suit adults and career changers seeking focused skill training, though specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Western Maricopa Education Center offers seven program families, with the top programs being welding schools, aviation maintenance (A&P) schools, and HVAC schools. It also offers pharmacy technician and CNC machining programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, with a status of Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs. About 36.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's completion rate is not reported in federal data. The state average completion rate is 64.4%, but a direct comparison for this campus is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (623) 738-0022 or check the College Scorecard link for more detail.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. You can check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?495013 for updates.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (623) 738-0022 or visit https://west-mec.edu/findyourhappy for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which often means lower tuition costs and eligibility for state-level funding compared to for-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to confirm program schedules and duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome data via the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?495013.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers hands-on programs in welding, aviation maintenance, HVAC, pharmacy technician, and CNC machining, which are occupational in focus; specific fit for career changers depends on program length and schedule, which are not reported in federal data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (623) 738-0022 to ask about specific program credentialing.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Western Maricopa Education Center at (623) 738-0022 or visit their website at https://west-mec.edu/findyourhappy to apply or learn more.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.