Best Community Colleges in Wisconsin of 2023

Winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a two-year college serving Iowa, Grant, Richland, Crawford, and Lafayette Counties. SWTC’s stated values include fostering inclusivity, learning, integrity, accountability, and continuing improvement institution-wide. Working and nontraditional students have the option of attending classes at night, on the weekends, or entirely online. Of the 15 “career clusters” available at SWTC, students can choose from more than 70 degrees and certification. Although SWTC offers many of the typical programs available in community colleges throughout the country, the college’s rural location is reflected in offerings such as the Dairy Goat Herd Management Certificate and the Farm Business & Production Management Diploma.

Located in Appleton, the main campus of Fox Valley Technical College serves students in the Fox Cities area. Additionally, FVTC has a second campus located in Oshkosh serving Winnebago County. FVTC is a two-year college offering over 100 occupational training degrees and certificates. The Business, Management & Finance subject area alone offers 35 degrees and professional certifications. For over 100 years, FVTC has provided a career-oriented educational experience to help prepare students for jobs in a variety of industries. If students enrolled in dual-credit classes at Fox Valley while they were in high school, they may be eligible to transfer these credits toward their associate degrees.

Moraine Park Technical College has three campuses in Beaver Dam, West Bend, and Fond du Lac as well as two regional centers. These campuses serve approximately 14,000 students in the surrounding areas. MPTC offers over 100 programs and career certifications. Additionally, students looking to earn professional credentials, learn new skills, or just broaden their horizons can take advantage of the interesting courses offered in the Continuing Education Program. Courses include subjects such as CPR and First Aid, Sign Language, Photography, Computers for Beginners, and Personal Finance. Continuing Education courses at MPTC are offered both in person and online.

Lakeshore Technical College is a two-year college located in Cleveland. With associate degrees in fields such as Accounting, Legal Studies, and Manufacturing Engineering Technology and professional certifications in areas like Adobe Creative Cloud, HVAC & Building Trades Fundamentals, and Industrial Networking, Lakeshore offers a program for everyone. In addition to preparing students for their future careers, Lakeshore Technical College is also invested in ensuring students have many choices of clubs and extracurricular activities so that they may make meaningful connections with their peers. For example, the Auto Maintenance Club and Society of Human Resource Management Student Chapter are two of Lakeshore’s student organizations that allow students to gain relevant experience in their fields while fostering a supportive environment among peers and classmates.

With physical campuses in the cities of Waukesha and Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College awards over 150 degrees and certificates to an average of 16,000 students every year. The college’s slogan, “Hands-on Higher Ed,” is evidenced by the many experiential learning opportunities offered to enrolled students. Invested in finding new ways to engage a diverse range of students, WCTC offers exciting student clubs such as Advancing Nontraditional Employment for Women, an organization that pairs WCTC graduates with professionals in STEM fields. More examples of WCTC’s emphasis on experiential learning include the student-run spa, restaurant, and dental hygiene clinic on campus.

With more than 100 programs in 60 different career-focused areas, Northwood Technical College is an excellent place for students in Wisconsin to start their higher education journey. Students can earn certificates, technical diplomas, and associate's degrees in fields like accounting, education, health information technology, veterinary technician, and more. Northwood's University Transfer degree program opens up even more options for students who want to go on to complete a bachelor's degree at one of Wisconsin's four-year colleges. Classes are available online or at one of Northwood's eight campuses throughout Wisconsin. Northwood's Career Services office can help students determine which career path is right for them, and provide them with the guidance they need to achieve their goals.

The three campuses of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College serve approximately 45,000 students in nine counties throughout northeastern Wisconsin. NWTC values lifelong learning and cutting-edge professional training and invests in the long-term success of their alumni. Over 40 four-year colleges throughout the state have partnered with NWTC to ensure that students can easily transfer their credits toward a bachelor’s degree at an affiliated institution. Over 200 academic degrees and programs are offered at NWTC, including the newly introduced associate degree in Biomedical Electronics and Associate of Arts Transfer Degree.

Covering the full breadth of Oneida, Forest, and Vilas Counties and areas of Iron, Lincoln, and Langlade Counties, Nicolet Area Technical College is home to over 70 academic programs. NATC’s beautiful campus on Lake Julia allows students to take in the natural wonders of Oneida County. Annually, NATC enrolls just under 2,000 students in associate degree and professional certification programs. With staggered start times throughout the semester, students can begin their associate degree or professional studies at the time most convenient for them. Over 88% of NATC’s students are enrolled part time, making this college a perfect choice for nontraditional students.

WIth a main campus in Eau Claire, the three locations of Chippewa Valley Technical College serve students in 11 counties. CVTC’s vision includes the fostering of integrity, critical thinking, effective communication, and diversity in their student body alongside practical career training and professional development. Dedicated to ensuring all students receive the support they need to be successful, CVTC offers many programs to help students achieve their goals. Student support services include Academic Advising, Academic Support teams, Career Development counselors, and Student Success Specialists. With opportunities to join multiple extracurricular clubs and even study abroad, CVTC offers a college experience not unlike a four-year university.

Based in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public technical college serving 11 counties. Over 5,000 students study in WTC’s 100 associate degree, certificate, and technical diploma programs. However, Western Technical offers more than a traditional classroom education. WTC’s Apprenticeship and Industry Training Center offers students the chance to earn credit toward their degree while receiving hands-on job training. These apprenticeships last three to six years and provide a progressive wage skill, depending on the student’s technical abilities. Students can complete apprenticeships to train as union electricians, industrial electricians, steamfitters, plumbers, or tool and die makers.

Serving Kenosha, Walworth, and Racine Counties, the campuses of Gateway Technical College are located in the southeastern part of the state. With over a century of experience serving students in southeastern Wisconsin, GTC has helped thousands of students begin their careers in technical trades or transfer to four-year universities. Out of Gateway’s more than 70 career programs, at least 21 programs are available entirely online. Additionally, at least 88% of GTC alumni are employed, and at least 34 businesses in the area have upskilled their workforce through professional development programs at Gateway.