January classes are enrolling now, with 13 career programs, general education options, and a new scholarship opportunity for qualifying students

If starting college or going back to school is on your list for 2027, you don’t have to wait until fall. WSU Tech offers programs starting this January that can help you build new skills, prepare for a career, or begin working toward a degree.

You can explore careers in business, technology, aviation, and more. And if you’re still deciding what you want to study, general education courses offer a way to start earning college credits while you consider your options.

And a new scholarship, Freshman 15, can cover your tuition while you get started.

Whether you know exactly what you want to do or you’re still figuring it out, here’s where you can start.

Freshman 15: Start With Tuition Covered

College is an investment, but getting started may cost less than you think.

Freshman 15 is a new WSU Tech scholarship that covers tuition for up to 15 credit hours of eligible general education courses for qualifying new students in the spring 2027 semester. Most general education courses are three credit hours, so that’s up to five classes with tuition covered.

You don’t need to have a major picked out to take advantage of the opportunity. You can start with general education courses and build credits toward a technical program, a WSU Tech degree, or a future transfer to a university.

If you’re interested in one of the career programs listed below, an advisor can help you determine whether any of its general education requirements are eligible for Freshman 15.

What to know before you apply:

  • Freshman 15 is available for the spring 2027 semester only, and scholarships are limited.
  • You must be a new adult student at WSU Tech. Students who took WSU Tech classes while in high school may still qualify.
  • You must enroll in at least six credit hours.
  • The scholarship covers tuition for eligible general education courses only. Books, supplies, and fees are not included.

Explore eligibility requirements and apply at www.WSUTECH.edu/Freshman15.

13 Career Programs You Can Start This January

Ready to start preparing for a new career? WSU Tech offers 13 career programs beginning in January, with options ranging from business and culinary arts to aviation and manufacturing.

Each program offers a different path to building skills you can put to work. While Freshman 15 applies specifically to eligible general education courses, an advisor can help you explore scholarships, financial aid, and other options for your chosen program.

Business Administration

Interested in business but not sure which direction you want to take? Business Administration builds skills you can apply across industries, including management, finance, and marketing. It’s a path toward leading a team, running a department, or starting a business of your own.

Learn more about Business Administration.

Accounting

Every business, nonprofit, and government office needs someone who can manage its money. That makes accounting a skill that travels with you from one industry to the next. If you like it when the numbers add up, you’ll learn to record transactions, prepare financial statements, and work in the software businesses use every day.

Learn more about Accounting.

Operations Management

Operations managers make sure the work actually gets done, on time and on budget. If you’re the person who naturally organizes the chaos, this program turns that into a career. You’ll learn scheduling, quality, and cost control, the skills behind supervisor and manager roles in manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses.

Learn more about Operations Management.

Digital Marketing

Every business needs to be found online, and someone has to make that happen. Digital marketing combines creativity, strategy, and data to help businesses connect with customers. You’ll learn how to create social media content, improve search visibility, and use analytics to understand what’s working. Take those skills to an agency, an in-house team, or your own business.

Learn more about Digital Marketing.

Logistics and Supply Chain

Every product on a store shelf or a front porch got there because someone planned how it would move. Logistics and supply chain professionals keep goods moving, solve problems when something stalls, and keep costs in check. You’ll learn purchasing, inventory, and transportation, skills that manufacturers, distributors, and retailers rely on.

Learn more about Logistics and Supply Chain.

Criminal Justice

If you want a career where your work helps keep your community safe, criminal justice is a place to start. You’ll learn how law enforcement, courts, and corrections work together, and build a foundation for a career in public safety.

Learn more about Criminal Justice.

Nondestructive Testing (NDT)

Before an aircraft part goes into service, someone has to confirm it’s sound. NDT technicians do that, using methods like ultrasonic and radiography to find flaws without damaging the part. WSU Tech’s program is offered with the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and prepares you for ASNT Level I and II work in six inspection methods. It’s hands-on, technical work that keeps people safe.

Learn more about NDT.

Professional Pilot

If you’ve ever looked up at a plane and wondered what it would take to fly it, this is how you find out. You’ll train at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita, the Air Capital of the World. Along the way to an Associate of Applied Science in Professional Pilot, you’ll work from Private Pilot through Certified Flight Instructor. WSU Tech holds FAA self-examining authority for Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial Pilot, allowing you to complete these flight examinations in-house while helping reduce scheduling delays and outside examiner costs.

Learn more about Professional Pilot.

Aviation Sheetmetal Assembly

Already working full time? You can still train for a career building aircraft. Evening classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Future Ready Center in Wichita, so you can keep your day job while you learn. You’ll learn to read engineering drawings, install fasteners, and assemble sheetmetal aircraft components on your way to an 18-credit-hour technical certificate. Coursework also prepares you for the Aerospace Core and Aerospace Assembly Mechanic certifications endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Learn more about Aviation Sheetmetal Assembly.

Quality Assurance Inspection

Before a part ships, someone has to sign off that it’s right. Quality inspectors are that final check, and manufacturers count on them. You’ll learn precision measuring, material testing, and root cause analysis, with two applied learning experiences in real manufacturing settings. It’s a strong fit if you’re detail-oriented and want to know exactly how things are made.

Learn more about Quality Assurance Inspection.

Machining Technology

Every aircraft, car, and machine is built from precision parts, and machinists make them. If you like building things and seeing exactly how they work, this program turns that into a skilled trade. You’ll train at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) to plan, make, and repair parts, with technical certificates in CNC Operator and Multi-Axis Machining among your options. The associate degree can also transfer toward a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology at Wichita State University.

Learn more about Machining Technology.

Information Technology

When technology breaks, everyone calls IT. That makes IT skills useful in nearly every workplace, from hospitals to schools to manufacturers. You’ll build a foundation in networking, security, and help desk support while you work toward CompTIA A+, the starting point for a career in IT.

Learn more about Information Technology.

Culinary Arts

If you’d rather spend your day in a kitchen than behind a desk, culinary arts can turn that into a career. You’ll train at the National Institute for Culinary and Hospitality Education (NICHE) in downtown Wichita, home to commercial kitchens, a public food hall, and a student-run café. Coursework covers artisanal breads and pastries, global cuisines, and menu development, all built on hands-on kitchen work. Choose an associate degree or a technical certificate.

Learn more about Culinary Arts.

Still Exploring? Start With General Education

Not everyone begins college knowing exactly what they want to study. And that’s OK.

WSU Tech offers general education courses that can help you get started while keeping your options open.

Freshman 15 covers more than 40 eligible courses, including English Composition I, College Algebra, and Medical Terminology. These classes can help you work toward a degree, complete general education requirements for certain career programs, or prepare to transfer to another institution.

See the full list of general education courses.

Many of these courses are approved through the Kansas Board of Regents Systemwide Transfer program, so your credits can transfer to Kansas public colleges and universities that offer equivalent courses.

Interested in earning a Wichita State degree?

Shocker Pathway allows you to begin with general education courses at WSU Tech and earn an associate degree from Wichita State University.

Whether you’re planning to transfer, working toward a specific degree, or simply ready to begin, general education can be a practical first step.

Explore general education courses and Shocker Pathway.

Ready to Get Started?

January classes are enrolling now, and Freshman 15 scholarships are limited.

Whether you’re interested in career training or want to begin with general education, WSU Tech can help you find your next step.

  1. Apply to WSU Tech. Visit www.WSUTECH.edu/GetStarted to begin the admissions process.
  2. Explore Freshman 15. If you’re a qualifying new student, you may be eligible for tuition coverage on up to 15 credit hours of eligible general education courses. Review the requirements and apply at www.WSUTECH.edu/Freshman15.
  3. Connect with an advisor. An advisor can help you choose courses, explore financial aid options, and complete your enrollment. You can also contact Admissions at admissions@wsutech.edu.

A new year is a good time to start. Make this the one where you do.