Dawson Technical Institute

What Dawson Technical Institute does

Dawson Technical Institute is a public technical and vocational training institute operating as a satellite campus of Kennedy-King College within the City Colleges of Chicago district, a government-owned community college system serving the Chicago metropolitan area. The institute delivers Adult Education programs (ESL, GED preparation, citizenship, digital literacy, healthcare bridge programs), Career and Technical Education certificate programs, and college credit courses applicable toward associate degrees or transfer to four-year universities. Its primary student populations are recent high school graduates from Chicago Public Schools, adult learners seeking workforce retraining or high school equivalency, high school students in dual-credit programs, and military veterans; the Star Scholarship provides tuition-free pathways for CPS and Big Shoulders Fund graduates with 3.0+ GPAs, while seniors 65+ may qualify for tuition-free credit registration.

The institute runs on a conventional community college operating model: revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees set at the City Colleges of Chicago district level, with differentiated rates for in-district (Chicago resident), out-of-district (Illinois non-Chicago), out-of-state, and international students, and specialized programs (nursing, aviation) carrying higher per-credit rates. Pricing for FY2026 is $157/credit (in-district), $414/credit (out-of-district), and $518/credit (out-of-state), with proposed FY2027 increases to $163, $429, and $538 respectively; Star Scholars and qualifying seniors pay nothing. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer enrollment via the apply.ccc.edu and my.ccc.edu portals, supplemented by the CPS dual-credit pipeline, employer apprenticeship partnerships, and a multi-channel marketing mix spanning Google Ads, social media, email/SMS, and community events.

The underlying technology stack is a standard educational SaaS portfolio: Brightspace (D2L) for online and hybrid course delivery, EAB Navigate for student success and academic advising, Salesforce for enrollment and partnership management, and Handshake for career services. The institution does not have proprietary software, patents, or AI/ML capabilities; competitive positioning rests on the City Colleges of Chicago brand, a citywide seven-college plus five-satellite distribution footprint, public funding and in-district pricing advantages, and structured transfer pathways to four-year universities through the Star Scholarship partner network. Dawson Technical Institute is a cost-distributed, government-anchored vocational education provider with low direct customer concentration, no private capital, and growth tied to public policy, district-level pricing decisions, and Chicago labor market demand.

Name

Dawson Technical Institute

Legal name

Dawson Technical Institute

Website

https://ccc.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Dawson Technical Institute is a public vocational training satellite campus of Kennedy-King College within the City Colleges of Chicago system, offering adult education, career and technical certificates, and college credit courses to Chicago residents, with tuition-free pathways for eligible CPS graduates via the Star Scholarship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical and Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Adult education
• Technical education
• Career certificates
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition for credit courses, with differentiated rates for in-district (Chicago residents), out-of-district (Illinois non-Chicago), out-of-state, and international students. Tuition varies by residency status and program type, with specialized healthcare and aviation programs having higher per-credit rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dawson Technical Institute is a public technical and vocational training institute operating as a satellite campus of Kennedy-King College within the City Colleges of Chicago system. It offers Adult Education (ESL, GED preparation, citizenship classes, digital literacy, healthcare bridge programs), Career and Technical Education certificate programs, and college credit courses that lead to associate degrees or transfer to four-year universities. The institute focuses on workforce development and serving Chicago community residents by enhancing academic and workforce skills.

Product overview

Dawson Technical Institute operates as a technical and vocational education center within the City Colleges of Chicago system. It is a satellite campus of Kennedy-King College that provides workforce development and educational programs including Adult Education (ESL, GED preparation, citizenship classes, digital literacy, healthcare bridge programs), Career and Technical Education certificate programs, and credit courses applicable toward associate degrees or university transfer. The institution focuses on serving community residents by offering opportunities to enhance academic and workforce skills.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Education Programs (ESL, GED, Citizenship, Digital Literacy) Free adult education programs covering English as a Second Language (ESL), GED/high school equivalency preparation, citizenship classes, digital literacy, and healthcare bridge programs. Designed for adult learners, immigrants, and community residents seeking foundational education and workforce entry points.
• Career and Technical Education Certificate Programs Certificate programs providing workforce-focused technical skills training across trades, healthcare, culinary, manufacturing, and technology disciplines. Targeted at students seeking industry-recognized credentials for direct entry into technical careers.
• College Credit Courses and Associate Degree Pathways Credit-bearing courses applicable toward associate degrees or transfer to four-year universities. Delivered on campus, online, and in hybrid formats through the Brightspace LMS. Designed for students pursuing a bachelor's pathway or an associate degree credential.
• Star Scholarship Program A flagship tuition-free scholarship program covering full tuition and books for up to 3 years for Chicago Public Schools graduates and Big Shoulders Fund partner school graduates with 3.0+ GPA, plus access to transfer scholarships at partner four-year universities for eligible Star Scholars.
• Earn and Learn Apprenticeship Program Apprenticeship program connecting students with Chicago-area employers for paid work-based learning while they pursue their education, creating direct career pipelines into growing local industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Star Scholars can earn an associate degree or certificate tuition-free and access transfer scholarships to four-year universities
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Four-Year University Transfer Partners (Star Scholarship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStar Scholarship program includes partnerships with multiple four-year universities providing recruiting, advising support while students are at City Colleges, and transfer scholarships. Universities commit to providing scholarships and benefits to eligible Star Scholars meeting academic requirements.
• Big Shoulders FundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Chicago-based Big Shoulders Fund partner Catholic high schools for Star Scholarship eligibility, expanding pathways to affordable college education for students from partnered high schools.
• Chicago Public Schools (CPS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeep partnership for dual credit, early college programs, and Star Scholarship recruitment. CPS graduates with 3.0+ GPA qualify for tuition-free college through Star Scholarship program.
• EAB NavigatecoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent success platform used for academic advising appointments, early intervention, and student tracking to improve retention and completion outcomes.
• Brightspace (D2L)coreTechnology or IntegrationLearning management system (LMS) used for online and hybrid course delivery across all seven City Colleges and satellite campuses.
• Chicago EmployerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarn and Learn apprenticeship program connects students with employers for paid work experience while pursuing education, creating career pipelines in growing industries.
• Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVI's Son y Arte summer camp is offered in partnership with NEIU, providing enrichment programs for children alongside adult education offerings.
• Illinois Community College SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAREER Agreement enables Chicago residents to access in-district tuition rates at other Illinois community colleges for programs not offered at City Colleges, supporting workforce development across the state.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• College of DuPage: Large Illinois community college in Glen Ellyn serving the western Chicago suburbs. Offers similar technical, vocational, and transfer programs but does not directly compete in Chicago proper.
• Harper College: Major community college in suburban Palatine, IL, serving the broader Chicago metro area. Comparable in offering associate degrees, technical certificates, and adult education, though operating in a different geographic market with different demographics.

Direct peers

• Harold Washington College: Sister college in the CCC system offering career and technical education with similar credit hour tuition structure and transfer pathway partnerships. Operates under the same district governance model.
• Richard J. Daley College: Another sister college in the City Colleges of Chicago system with comparable technical and career-focused programs. Earned the Seal of Excelencia certification in 2023, similar to Wright's recognition profile.
• Olive-Harvey College: Sister CCC college on Chicago's South Side offering similar workforce development, adult education, and technical certificate programs targeting the same underserved community demographics.
• Arturo Velasquez Institute: Another satellite technical institute within City Colleges of Chicago (under Daley College), offering similar adult education, ESL/GED, and technical training programs for the Latino community in Chicago.
• Harry S Truman College: Sister CCC college in Chicago's north side serving similar adult learner, career changer, and recent high school graduate populations with comparable technical and vocational programs.
• Malcolm X College: Sister CCC college specializing in healthcare career pathways, operating under the same district governance. Comparable in mission of providing affordable technical education to Chicago residents.
• Wilbur Wright College: Sister college within City Colleges of Chicago offering similar technical, career, and adult education programs to Chicago residents. Both serve similar urban populations and compete for the same student pipeline.
• Kennedy-King College: Dawson Technical Institute is a satellite campus of Kennedy-King College within the same City Colleges of Chicago system, sharing administrative, financial, and academic infrastructure. This is the most direct peer given the parent-child institutional relationship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ChiCityColleges
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/citycollegeschicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/citycollegeschicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citycollegeschicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/citycollegeschicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dawson Technical Institute