Out of over 7,500 institutions nationwide, Central Georgia Technical College has once again been recognized as a leader among postsecondary institutions. In the latest rankings reported by Community College Week magazine, CGTC is ranked 6th nationwide in awarding  one-year workforce preparatory credentials among all postsecondary institutions reporting  graduate data to the U.S. Department of Education. And, for the second year in a row, CGTC led the nation in one-year awards earned by African-American students.
 
“These rankings affirm that Central Georgia Technical College is a leader in the country in equipping students with the training and skills they need to strengthen their marketability and to meet the demands of today’s workforce,” said Deborah Burks, vice president for Institutional Effectiveness at CGTC. “Additionally, the significant number of graduates with credentials in strategic career fields such as welding, logistics, industrial engineering technologies, customer service, and healthcare give business and industry leaders the confidence that the qualified workforce exists to attract new industries and to support the expansion of existing industries in central Georgia.”
 
During a recent announcement of a new industrial prospect, CGTC was credited with assisting in solidifying the company’s decision to locate in middle Georgia.
 
“Central Georgia Technical College played a pivotal role in helping secure Sandler AG’s decision to locate in Houston County,” said Angie Gheesling, executive director of the Houston County Development Authority. “CGTC consistently graduates students who are prepared for the workforce. Their efforts, as evidenced by this ranking, are essential in making sure we have a strong base of qualified workers to help influence the decisions of employers to locate in the region.”
 
Through the efforts of the College’s faculty, each CGTC student receives a quality education that will lead to employment. CGTC workforce preparatory programs are designed to support local employers by giving students the specific skills to be successful.
 
“CGTC is an essential partner in our efforts to grow existing businesses and to attract new industries to our region,” said Pat Topping, senior vice president of the Macon Economic Development Commission. “These rankings confirm what we have known for many years—we can count on CGTC to support our economic development efforts and to provide a well-trained workforce. Whether it is a domestic or an international prospect, we know that CGTC will strive to meet their workforce and training needs.”
 
Among the rankings for one-year awards for all disciplines, CGTC was the highest ranked college in Georgia. The College ranked 9th for total non-minority awards and 5th for total minority one-year awards. CGTC was also recognized for two-year awards, ranking 25th out of over 7,500 colleges nationwide.
 
Data reflected in these rankings is derived from the Integrated Post-secondary Education Data Set, or IPEDS, completion data from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. CCW annually publishes rankings for colleges across the nation who award associate degrees and certificates. To be considered for the ranking, a college must be based in the 50 states, be accredited by a recognized agency, and must have permission to dispense Title IV federal student financial assistance. The 2015 rankings reflect degrees or certificates awarded during the 2013-2014 academic year.