Gwinnett Technical College sets enrollment records for third consecutive year

Gwinnett Technical College has set enrollment records each of the last three years, reflecting a nationwide surge in demand for faster, hands-on career paths that don’t saddle young people with debt.

The Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce invited Lawrenceville-based Gwinnett Tech to its May 14 Thursday Thought Leaders luncheon to share its latest initiatives in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and advanced automotive technology.

Lauren Dodson, vice president of economic development at Gwinnett Tech, said more than 91% of students find an in-field job after earning their associate degree, diploma, or certificate.

“We are in the business of providing students with skills that lead directly to jobs,” Dodson said. “When you give someone a skill and a job, you give them the ability to earn a livable wage, which can dramatically improve their quality of life. Gwinnett Tech develops talent pipelines.”

Technical college’s role in Gwinnett

Throughout the chamber meeting, established professionals criticized the “college for all” movement that has left the country with a shortage of skilled workers.

Dodson, a former teacher at Gwinnett County Public Schools, said it’s her personal mission to make sure more people know about technical colleges. Her economic development team has two roles, oriented toward local students and businesses.

“We’re here to help industry improve its workforce pipeline and make sure we have people with the skills necessary to compete in today’s economy,” Dodson said. “We’re known for HVAC, welding, electrical … all of the skilled trades. But if you’re a business owner, I also want you to know we have business students, marketing students, accounting students.”

More than 60% of Gwinnett Tech students live in the county. Because of a four-year degree’s shifting cost-benefit analysis, more young people are enrolling straight out of high school. Almost half of the students are under age 21.

During Dodson’s presentation, she announced that the state legislature has funded an expansion of Gwinnett Tech’s Alpharetta campus on Old Milton Parkway. With more than 10,000 graduates since 2020, the state’s second-largest technical college is expanding to meet employer needs.

“Every single one of our programs of study has an advisory board,” Dodson said. “It’s very important that our curriculum matches what’s needed in the industry, and the way that we do that is we make sure that we are bringing in professionals and experts in the field.”

Affordability and trade schools

Dodson said public technical colleges are growing because they’re affordable. Gwinnett Tech has more than 15,500 credit-enrolled students each year and another 8,000 individuals trying to upskill.

“Our cost is $107 per credit hour before any financial aid, and virtually every student on our campuses is on some form of financial aid,” Dodson said. “We used to be a second choice for a lot of people, but we’re increasingly seeing students choose us as their first, intentional path after high school.” 

Gwinnett Tech has a first-of-its-kind training program with Sandy Springs-based Mercedes-Benz USA that directly feeds technicians into the company’s workforce.

“Mercedes came in with a clear need for skilled technicians and partnered with us to build a career pathway,” Dodson said. “They invested in the lab space and equipment, and students who enroll in that program know they’re walking into a pipeline that leads straight to a job. That’s what a real workforce partnership looks like.”

After her presentation to a packed room at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast hotel, Dodson sat down with former Southwest Gwinnett Chamber President Barry Adams, owner of Peachtree Awnings.

Adams, who sits on an advisory board for welding, said he approached Gwinnett Tech because he needed to create a workforce pipeline to grow his business.

“Every single one of the welders and fabricators on my shop floor comes from Gwinnett Tech, not surprisingly,” Adams said. “It’s been a strategic relationship that has really benefited my company, and I think it’s benefited Gwinnett Tech, because they’re in the business of placing students in jobs.”

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