Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology has been selected to join the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s expanded Unlocking Opportunity network. This initiative helps colleges align programs and advising to lead students to careers in high demand and continuing education opportunities.
Over the next three years, the College will partner with Aspen and peer institutions to assess programs, set clear goals, and scale research-based reforms that improve student success. This work will focus on guiding more students into high-value programs of study tied to good jobs throughout the state and to seamless pathways for those who want to continue their education.
What this Means for Our Students
- Clearer pathways, stronger advising: Program maps and student supports will make the route to a credential, career, or continuing on in further education more transparent from day one.
- Even tighter industry alignment: the College will deepen employer partnerships so curricula, labs, and work-based learning mirror real-world needs in high-demand fields.
- Expanded transfer options: Purposeful pathways will help students save time and money while moving confidently into four-year programs, apprenticeships, additional stackable credentials, and beyond.
- Data-driven equity gains: Reforms will prioritize access and outcomes for students who have historically faced barriers, reflecting TSCT’s mission as an architect of opportunity.
Building on Proven Results
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology already delivers strong real-world results, including a 98 percent placement rate, a $52,500 median first-year salary, extensive hands-on learning with industry-experienced faculty, and robust employer connections that translate to opportunity for graduates. Participation in the Unlocking Opportunity network accelerates this momentum, positioning more students to be in high demand across Pennsylvania’s workforce while supporting those who choose to continue on to additional education.
A Coordinated, National Effort
The College joins a cohort of colleges working with Aspen to increase enrollment and completion in high-value workforce and transfer programs while reducing lower-opportunity pathways. The initiative draws on lessons from the network’s original pilot institutions and pairs virtual learning with in-person sessions for college teams. Aspen will track and support participating colleges for at least three years and share insights through publications, fellowships, and state partnerships to strengthen results across the field.
Unlocking Opportunity, developed in partnership with the Community College Research Center, is supported by Arnold Ventures, Ascendium Education Group, Bank of America, ECMC Foundation, and JPMorganChase. The expansion of the Unlocking Opportunity network is made possible by the support of JPMorganChase.
Learn more about the Unlocking Opportunity network on the Aspen Institute website: https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/programs/unlocking-opportunity