JANESVILLE, Wis. — Two-thirds of Wisconsin residents hold a favorable opinion of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and its colleges, according to a new statewide survey. Blackhawk Technical College is one of 16 colleges that are part of WTCS and has seen its enrollment increase more than 26% since 2022.
“Blackhawk Technical College continues to be an affordable, high-quality education option for students in our area,” Blackhawk President Dr. Tracy Pierner said. “These survey results support the work we do to help students achieve their higher education goals, including transferring coursework to pursue a bachelor’s degree.”
Key highlights from the WTCS survey include:
- 66% of Wisconsin residents have a favorable opinion of WTCS, up from 52% in 2022.
- 76% believe the state benefits from the education technical colleges provide, an increase from 71% in 2022.
- 78% agree that higher education is a significant investment, and students and families must consider long-term costs when choosing a college.
- 76% agree not all students benefit from a four-year college education, up from 71% in 2022.
- 64% see technical colleges as a strong option for students planning to transfer to a four-year public college or university, up from 60% in 2022.
WTCS colleges also lead in favorability compared to other higher education options and earned the highest Net Promoter Score among institutions surveyed. The score of +30 is more than double the 2022 score.
“Wisconsin residents clearly recognize the value technical colleges bring to individuals, communities and the state’s economy,” said WTCS System President Layla Merrifield. “These survey results affirm that we are meeting the needs of students and employers alike.”
The survey highlights affordability, transfer opportunities and strong recommendations from others as key drivers of WTCS’s positive reputation. Residents overwhelmingly associate technical colleges with real-world value, job outcomes and affordability.
“Blackhawk remains committed to southern Wisconsin and to strengthening partnerships with employers. Our goal is to ensure every student succeeds with flexible education in a supportive environment,” Pierner said.
About Blackhawk Technical College
Blackhawk Technical College, one of 16 colleges under the Wisconsin Technical College System, serves students and employers in Rock and Green counties with campuses in Janesville and Monroe, Wisconsin. The College has more than 6,000 credit and noncredit students enrolled in more than 70 programs. Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, it has provided education and training to area students and employers since 1912. Find out more at blackhawk.edu.
About WTCS
The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) is Wisconsin’s largest higher education system, with 16 colleges offering more than 500 programs awarding two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas, short-term technical diplomas and certificates, education for registered apprenticeship students and adult education programs. In addition, the System is the major provider of customized instruction and consultation for Wisconsin employers. More than 293,000 individuals access the technical colleges each year.
