Back to school NC | Wake Tech is booming as many students see it as a first option for trade jobs, AI, biotech

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — With so much uncertainty in the job market, along with concerns about funding for higher education, Wake Tech is actually experiencing explosive growth. The school’s president is optimistic about the future at the largest community college in North Carolina.

No matter the age of the students, there’s still something fun about the first day of school.

Wake Tech President Scott Rolls is also excited as he sees the largest enrollment in the school’s history, at nearly 75,000.

“We are booming, we have nearly 3,000 more students than last year, which is 11 percent higher than last year, which was also a record year.”

As artificial intelligence and a slowing labor market put pressure on new college graduates, the president sees the offerings at Wake Tech as more appealing.

“We are not a second-choice institution anymore. We are a first choice for a lot of our students. A lot of our students understand the true return on investment there is at a place like Wake Tech, with the hope that jobs in health care and the trades are as close to “future proof” as you can get.”

Rolls says it’s important to stay aligned with the changing job industries.

“We always go where the jobs go. You can see areas like bio manufacturing is booming and those gateways are through Wake Tech.”

Jesus Ortiz is excited about his first day studying welding. He decided against a university path and wants to go into something that can get him a job now.

“I felt this was a secure step and I’m just happy to be here. I had heard so many positive reviews of Wake Tech.”

And as universities around the country deal with uncertainty, Ralls feels good about the financial future of the college. Schools like Wake Tech have never received a lot of money from the feds so as that resource becomes more and more scarce, the effect on the community college is actually very little.

“It doesn’t affect us in the same way it does other universities so with a combination of our very significant enrollment growth and not facing the cuts the universities are facing.

Jesus feels good about his financial future.

“I’m working with the career team to secure a job before I even get out of here.”