Texas Vocational Education: Connecting Students to Industry with Focus on Salary Opportunities

The Texas State Technical College system’s 11 campuses adhere to the recruiting motto: “Life is hands-on. Your education should be too.”

One visit to the expansive flagship campus in Waco reveals students engaged in a variety of hands-on activities, from creating robots and repairing hybrid cars to baking cakes and flying airplanes.

The primary goal, according to administrators, is to prepare students quickly for the workforce and secure high-paying jobs in Texas’s growing economy.

This approach involves a significant emphasis on meeting industry needs and focusing on higher-paying jobs, which some consider unconventional, if not extreme.

Despite similar programs being available at closer traditional community colleges, students often choose Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus, with its range of majors and on-campus housing options.

For example, 19-year-old Ethan Hernandez chose a two-year associate degree in automotive technology at the Waco campus to deepen his knowledge in car repairs, including a potential certificate in collision repair.

Hernandez, hailing from Keller, Texas, is exploring the addition of an electric repairs program at the Waco campus run by Tesla to broaden his skill set further.

“I want to know how to do the interiors and exteriors of cars,” Hernandez stated.

Many young people opt for traditional four-year colleges for social reasons, but Hernandez emphasizes the value of technical education for immediate job market access.

The Texas technical education system, with about 11,400 full-time students across all campuses, including 3,100 in Waco, offers certificates and diplomas that require one semester to two years for completion.