Renton Technical College | Field Guide 2021

Renton Technical College logo

Renton Technical College’s short- and long-term career training programs prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers in manufacturing, health care, automotive, information technology, business and culinary arts.

Whether they want to advance their careers, get transfer credits, earn their high school diplomas, or take college preparatory classes, students find their place at Renton Technical College. RTC provides small classes, student support, hands-on training and flexible course options in an inclusive environment. Renton Technical College meets students where they are and helps move them forward to greater opportunities. Equity is at the core of our mission, and 70% of students identify as students of color.

Print RTC's Guide

Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

Computer Network Technology
Computer Science
Medical Assistant
Automotive Technology
Culinary Arts

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 8,848
FTES (all sources): 3,477
Headcount (state-funded): 8,037
FTES (state-funded): 3,149

Students in Selected Programs

Applied bachelor's: 106
Apprentices: 2,086
I-BEST: 449
International: 20
Running Start: 182
Worker Retraining: 428

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 6%
Basic skills: 20%
Other: 1%
Workforce education: 73%

Race/Ethnicity*

American Indian/Alaska Native: 2%
Asian: 25%
Black/African American: 17%
Hispanic/Latino: 21%
Pacific Islander: 1%
Other race: 5%
White: 33%

Attendance

Full-time: 39%
Part-time: 61%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 45%
Students who work: 45%
Students with children: 43%

Gender

Female: 39%
Male: 61%

Median age

Points of Interest

Students Succeed at RTC

RTC meets students where they are and moves them forward to greater opportunity, illustrated by our completion rate of 66% and our job placement rate of 82%. Equity is at the core of our mission, and we are proud to serve a diverse population of students and work to remove barriers to success, especially during COVID-19. We offer hands-on training in a safe setting in our labs, while the remainder of courses are offered online through spring quarter 2021. The college provides technology, including computers, hotspots and other devices to ensure all students have access to programs and services.

Preparing the workforce

RTC prepares students for a changing workforce with programs such as Mechatronics, which integrates robotics, mechanical, electrical and computer science now used in a variety of industries. Our Registered Nurse and other short- and long-term health care programs ensure RTC helps meet growing health care needs while providing students opportunities in high-demand, high-wage careers. Partners include Swedish Medical Center, Valley Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente.

A variety of paths

RTC is consistently ranked as one of the top two-year colleges in the country. In addition to certificate and associate degrees in career training programs, RTC offers bachelor of applied science degrees in Network Architecture and Application Development, transferable credits and degrees, and Running Start. Many graduates transfer to universities, including two recent graduates who went on to study at Harvard and Columbia.

Data is from the 2019-20 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted.

*May not add up to 100% because students may be counted in more than one race. Percentages calculated on reported value.