welcome and good luck in pursuing your career in welding. I was pleasantly surprised to see my school Penn college of technology listed as good place to get a degree. I'm in my 4th year of a welding engineering degree from PCT. I understand the thirst for education I thought about working full time as a welder but I couldn't keep my head out of the books!
If you have any specific questions feel free to message me and I can see what I can do. There's a gamut of welding engineering degrees and related positions from a very hands on degree such as mine at PCT to one focused on theory and metallurgy like that of Ohio states. The choice for you is dependent on your preference but right now there's a serious lack of welding engineers who can genuinely apply the knowledge and have the hands on experience to relate to the welders. Being a boilermaker is a big advantage in jumping over to the other side of the fence. Employeers and welders like people who were in the field and know how to weld what they design.
you seem to share the enthusiasm and love of welding that many of the members on the board have. That in itself is probably one of the best traits to have to get into welding engineering. Besides that be studious and willing to learn new things. It should be said that although there is a drought of welding engineers there's also a drought of schools with established welding engineering programs. Off the top of my head
Penn college of technology, (Where I go)
Ferris State.
Ohio State
LeTourneau
http://www.letu.edu/opencms/opencms/_Academics/Engineering/engineering/welding/I believe arizona state has a program?
there's not that many some of these schools are starting to reach full capacity year after year. Just as a heads up
Good luck!