With a rich history rooted in adult-education classes first offered more than a century ago, Pennsylvania College of Technology turns today’s eager learners into the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow.
A special mission affiliate of Penn State and a national leader in applied technology education, Penn College consistently satisfies employers’ needs in diverse and in-demand professions. In fields such as nursing, culinary arts and aviation maintenance technology, to leading-edge options in cybersecurity, automotive restoration and entrepreneurial innovation, the College offers more than 100 “degrees that work” to 5,300-plus students.
Profoundly Practical
Penn College’s success is attributable in large measure to the real-world expertise of its blue-ribbon faculty.
Instructional heavy-hitters abound on the institution’s campuses, including Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, named among the nation’s top 25 educators by Bake magazine; J.D. Mather, whose contributions to the global Autodesk community are a mainstay of the computer-aided design world; and David M. Moyer, among the art faculty whose work has been featured in high-profile galleries.
The know-how in classrooms and labs is bolstered by the College’s committed partners in business and industry who provide advice on curriculum and equipment, share professional connections and internship opportunities, and eventually provide life-sustaining jobs for graduates.
Among those notables in the past year is Shell Polymers, which directed substantial financial resources to help the college boost plastics manufacturing through the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence.
Penn College — home to the internationally renowned Plastics Innovation & Resource Center — is among a half-dozen institutions nationwide with two- and four-year plastics degrees accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Elsewhere in the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies are electronics and computer engineering technology programs — preparing graduates for positions in the robotics, automation and other high-demand fields — that are among the majors showing the growth and stability that translate into pathways for success.
A 35,000-square-foot expansion of that school’s welding lab will be completed by the fall semester, opening an already-popular program to up to 60 more students each year.
A Community of Creators
Industriousness is also the byword in The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College, which was dedicated in August as a collaborative environment for students and employees alike.
A variety of equipment and techniques — from casting to prototyping, cosplay to 3D printing — are available in the makerspace, combining the focus of a technological leader with the playfulness of self-expression.
Green with Opportunity
The nearby Schneebeli Earth Science Center campus offers one of the most scenic living laboratories imaginable. There, horticulture/landscape technology students beautifully make their mark, and forest technology specialists learn stewardship of woodland and wildlife alike. The campus is also home to popular heavy equipment, diesel and power generation programs.
The College’s Lumley Aviation Center at the Williamsport Regional Airport provides a 50,000-square-foot instructional facility — certified by the Federal Aviation Administration — for students pursuing careers in aviation maintenance and avionics. With an impressive fleet of donated aircraft, students can prepare for FAA mechanical licenses through hands-on experiences in metal fabrication, electrical and hydraulics, composite structures, reciprocating engines, turbine engines, avionics systems, and more.
Ideal Location
Nestled among the mountains of northcentral Pennsylvania, approximately a three-hour drive from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York City, the Williamsport main campus is within minutes of a vibrant downtown and some of the best outdoor recreation options in the commonwealth: hiking/camping along the Mid State and Loyalsock trails, kayaking, fishing in Class A Wild Trout Waters, and road and mountain biking, among them.
Focus on Student Success
The College’s tactile approach to learning provides students with access to the latest technology in classrooms, laboratories, the college library and study areas. Students log three hours of hands-on lab time for each hour of classroom lecture, beginning in their first semester.
The skills gap in the American workforce — the shortfall between job openings and qualified applicants — is addressed by many of Penn College’s majors, including signature fields like health care and manufacturing, which carry high potential for rapid postgraduate employment and workplace advancement. Twice-yearly Career Fairs attract Fortune 500 companies, drawn by the College’s reputation for talented and industrious students and alumni.
A Convincing Level of Commitment
Courses are taught by faculty who often have relevant work-related experience; a 1:14 faculty-to-student ratio and small class sizes (averaging 17 students) ensure personal attention, and there is ample cross-disciplinary exposure.
Undecided? Students may choose from among two- or four-year degrees in scores of exciting program areas. Momentum guarantees a seamless transition from campus to career, with a graduate-placement rate of more than 95 percent overall — reaching 100 percent in some majors.
Nearly 93 percent of Penn College students receive financial aid from various sources, and more than 250 scholarships administered in-house are available. The College’s family of servicemen and women can have specific questions answered in the recently added Major General Fred F. Marty Veterans and Military Resource Center.
The College is committed to student success and access to education. The College follows a test-optional model for admissions, allowing students to use placement testing or SAT/ACT scores to determine which classes they’ll be scheduled to take.
Student Life
A full college experience features on-campus housing, student activities and Greek Life opportunities in nationally affiliated fraternities. The campus community includes more than 70 active clubs and organizations, many aligned with students’ fields of study.
Penn College is a member of NCAA Division III, and 12 of the College’s 15 Wildcat Athletic teams participate in the North Eastern Athletic Conference, allowing student-athletes to compete for national championships.
Experience Penn College Firsthand
Request information or register for a tour: visit pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free at 1-800-367-9222.
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