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Opportunity

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Wisconsin’s technical colleges are open doors to a world of opportunity.

Our colleges are here for you, no matter where you are in your education journey.

Students

Wisconsin's technical colleges provide opportunities for students from many and varied backgrounds to pursue their education. The world is changing before our eyes. An education from one of our colleges ensures you can continue to keep up. Whether you need a single course, an industry-approved credential, additional skills for your resume, or to pivot to a new career altogether, our colleges are ready to help you succeed.

Lifelong learning is now an economic imperative for individuals, employers and Wisconsin's economy. Wisconsin's technical colleges were built for this moment.

Students

Icon–Person on laptop

250000

students attend a Wisconsin technical college every year

Technical colleges are accessible to students of all backgrounds.
1,417
0.46%
Displaced Homemaker
8,660
2.81%
LEP
14,395
4.68%
Disabled
5,962
1.94%
Incarcerated
11,485
3.73%
Non-Traditional
17,591
5.71%
Single Parent
45,204
14.68%
Academically Disadvantaged
58,772
19.09%
Economically Disadvantaged
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Student Ambassador Angie Haney

WTCS Ambassador Angie Haney shares how attending Gateway Technical College has positively impacted her life and helped her overcome adversity.

Watch Angie's story
2020 21 WTCS FactBook Student Data COVER THUMB

Fact Book: Student Data

The WTCS Fact Book: Student Data includes information about headcount and Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) student enrollments, program and apprenticeship outcomes information, and student demographic data.

Read the publication online here or download using the links below.

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2021 System wide Equity Report COVER THUMB

System-wide Equity Report

The Wisconsin Technical College System provides open-access educational opportunities for all Wisconsin residents and a reliable talent pipeline for employers.

For these connections to thrive, students need not only access to our colleges, but also equitable opportunities to achieve success. Closing opportunity gaps has emerged as an economic imperative for Wisconsin. WTCS is actively engaged in an aligned, accelerated and System-wide approach to addressing these gaps and improving success for all students.

This report identifies existing gaps in access and success for our students, as well as staff, and sets three goals to advance equity and inclusion System-wide.

Read the report online here or download using the link below.

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Transfers

More than 25,000 students attending a Wisconsin technical college had already earned college credits upon enrolling in one our colleges. So if you're seeking to enhance your skills or do something completely different, you're not alone. The average age of our college student is 34.

Looking to start here and continue on after that? There are more than 600 transfer agreements between Wisconsin technical colleges and other higher education institutions. You can save time and money by earning a few credentials or a complete degree at a technical college and transferring to a four-year college or university after that.

Students transferring to or from a Wisconsin technical college expect that most or all of their credits will transfer.

Students

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39%

of students transferring credits to Wisconsin technical colleges were from the University of Wisconsin System

10233

students transferred 146,346 credits to a Wisconsin technical college in 2019

600+

transfer agreements exist between Wisconsin technical colleges and other higher education institutions 

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Student Ambassador Max Czechowski

WTCS State Ambassador Max Czechowski talks about his educational journey at Waukesha County Technical College, which began while he was still in high school.

Watch Max's story
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Credit Transfer Report

For a variety of reasons, college students now routinely attend multiple higher education institutions to achieve their academic and career goals. Nationally, more than one-third of college students transfer at least once, with most staying within the same state.

Wisconsin’s 16 technical colleges often serve as an entry point for students with four-year degree aspirations. Lesser known is that they also provide valuable options for four-year students seeking to transfer to a technical college.

Because receiving institutions maintain student records, this report’s primary focus is on students who transferred credits to one of Wisconsin’s 16 technical colleges.

Read the report online here or download using the links below.

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Dual Credit

High school students can earn college credit before even graduating high school. With the many dual credit options available to students across the state, some students even graduate with an associate degree at the same time they walk across their high school graduation stage.

I was able to get pretty close to being done with the first year of my associate degree program before I even finished high school.

Students

Icon–Money sign with envelope

52543

high school students earned about $31 million worth of dual credits in 2019-20

228769

dual credits were earned

395

Wisconsin high schools had more than 3,700 transcripted credit agreements with tech colleges

Tech Stories Keydi Osorio headshot

Student Ambassador Keydi Osorio

WTCS State Ambassador Keydi Osorio shares her educational journey at Gateway Technical College, which began while she was still in high school.

Watch Keydi's story
WTCS Dual Credit Fall 2022 Cover

Dual Credit

Students and families are increasingly interested in the ability of K-12 students to earn college credit while still in high school, saving them time and money after high school graduation.

Motivated students are now earning not only credit from a technical college, but they are earning technical college credentials - up to and including Associate Degrees - before high school graduation, at no cost to the student or family.

View the publication online here or download using the links below.

Learn More