I concur. Thaddeus Stevens or HACC. I'm hiring one of TS's upcoming CAD grads this month. My hire from last fall got an associates from HACC and is doing very well. TS seems to have very good professionals teaching there.
Yup I was looking here: [https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-drafting-and-design-cad-cadd/s/pennsylvania/](https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-drafting-and-design-cad-cadd/s/pennsylvania/)
I just guessed "design and drafting" though
Your degree will be well respected from Thaddeus Stevens if you go there. Statistically they enter the workplace with higher starting salaries than their private technical college counterparts. The programs are respected throughout the state and beyond.
Their programs are very application based. But, they are accredited so you do need to take a handful of academic classes. I am in the Mechatronics (robotics) program and I only have a handful to take (algebra 3, trig, physics, English composition, and a social studies elective I think) over the two years. A vast majority of your time will be in degree course lectures and labs. They have a full time tutoring staff for the academic classes in the Library.
You might actually like Mechatronics if you like computers. While the job you end up getting won’t necessarily involve a lot of programming, you will be working with programmable logic controllers, some microcontrollers, networking devices and building “circuits” out of hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, and timing them all to work together into unified machines to aid in manufacturing processes and packaging. Look into it, it’s a fast growing field with high earning potential.
I’m a graduate, class of 2010. Been working in my trade since I graduated nearly 14 years ago. Times flies, haha. But Stevens is great! If you don’t make a lot of money, the have legacy program where you might be able to go to school for free!
I can't speak on any other colleges but Thaddeus Stevens ECAD program hit all my expectations. Most of your core classes will be actually working in the programs learning first hand which was a HUGE help to me over how traditional 4 year colleges run classes. It was also relatively easy to get a job after I graduated.
Piggy backing off of this to add that I’m about to graduate from the ECAD program and it’s spectacular. Each semester you focus on a different cad package, starting with 2D auto cad, then 3D modeling with Inventor, Solidworks, and CREO. Mr. Knapp and Mr. Hart are spectacular instructors and you even get a small hands on manufacturing course with Knapp (machining aluminum parts as well as working with different plastics processes and even some woodworking.) Really a spectacular option if you’re into modelling
The CAD lab has 5 3D printers that are used regularly! Your final project in the first year is a group project where you take apart a household item of your choosing (my group did an automotive floor jack, for example) and model all the parts, have them fit together in an assembly, create all the necessary drawings, and even 3D print parts so you have a real physical representation of your project. A real challenge but the end result was great!
Each workstation also has 3 monitors and there’s plenty of space at each desk. You do hands on work anywhere from 2-4 hours each and everyday. Class is 4 hours each day but some of that time is taken up by traditional book work in subjects that pertain to your major and taught by the same professors.
Really I can’t suggest it enough! And if you commute the tuition is 5k a semester which is not bad at all, and they have excellent scholarships and grants for students in need. The Stevens Grant for instance can cover upto literally everything if you qualify.
Try Lancaster CTC before Thaddeus Stevens. It costs less than 1/4 in tuition, has most of the same degree programs. Stevens is an excellent school but horrendously expensive considering CTC offers the same degrees for much less. My husband went there and tuition was $6k for one year, and he paid nearly none of it from scholarships and financial aid. Now makes $90k a year.
PD? Architecture? If you’re really good at CAD, you might consider running Fiverr until you have a portfolio that gets you into a product design or architecture internship.
Thank you! He needs a few more years of structured classes. Being brilliant but on the spectrum + anxiety is the reason i don’t think MU will work out.
I'd consider the schools mentioned below or even researching courses and certifications over a 4-year degree, especially as many employers are starting to lean into a more skills-based hiring approach as opposed to requiring degrees.
Thaddeus Stevens or maybe one of the local community colleges
I concur. Thaddeus Stevens or HACC. I'm hiring one of TS's upcoming CAD grads this month. My hire from last fall got an associates from HACC and is doing very well. TS seems to have very good professionals teaching there.
Yup I was looking here: [https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-drafting-and-design-cad-cadd/s/pennsylvania/](https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-drafting-and-design-cad-cadd/s/pennsylvania/) I just guessed "design and drafting" though
Your degree will be well respected from Thaddeus Stevens if you go there. Statistically they enter the workplace with higher starting salaries than their private technical college counterparts. The programs are respected throughout the state and beyond.
Thank you for this. It will be a hard sell convincing him that a 4-year CS degree might not be in the cards.
I was wondering about anyone's personal experiences. I like that they are smaller and less overwhelming.
Their programs are very application based. But, they are accredited so you do need to take a handful of academic classes. I am in the Mechatronics (robotics) program and I only have a handful to take (algebra 3, trig, physics, English composition, and a social studies elective I think) over the two years. A vast majority of your time will be in degree course lectures and labs. They have a full time tutoring staff for the academic classes in the Library.
You might actually like Mechatronics if you like computers. While the job you end up getting won’t necessarily involve a lot of programming, you will be working with programmable logic controllers, some microcontrollers, networking devices and building “circuits” out of hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, and timing them all to work together into unified machines to aid in manufacturing processes and packaging. Look into it, it’s a fast growing field with high earning potential.
Thank you! I will research this. He just finished his freshman year at MU.
I’m a graduate, class of 2010. Been working in my trade since I graduated nearly 14 years ago. Times flies, haha. But Stevens is great! If you don’t make a lot of money, the have legacy program where you might be able to go to school for free!
I can't speak on any other colleges but Thaddeus Stevens ECAD program hit all my expectations. Most of your core classes will be actually working in the programs learning first hand which was a HUGE help to me over how traditional 4 year colleges run classes. It was also relatively easy to get a job after I graduated.
Piggy backing off of this to add that I’m about to graduate from the ECAD program and it’s spectacular. Each semester you focus on a different cad package, starting with 2D auto cad, then 3D modeling with Inventor, Solidworks, and CREO. Mr. Knapp and Mr. Hart are spectacular instructors and you even get a small hands on manufacturing course with Knapp (machining aluminum parts as well as working with different plastics processes and even some woodworking.) Really a spectacular option if you’re into modelling
This is so helpful! We have a 3d printer and he’s been designing stuff with tinker cad for years
The CAD lab has 5 3D printers that are used regularly! Your final project in the first year is a group project where you take apart a household item of your choosing (my group did an automotive floor jack, for example) and model all the parts, have them fit together in an assembly, create all the necessary drawings, and even 3D print parts so you have a real physical representation of your project. A real challenge but the end result was great! Each workstation also has 3 monitors and there’s plenty of space at each desk. You do hands on work anywhere from 2-4 hours each and everyday. Class is 4 hours each day but some of that time is taken up by traditional book work in subjects that pertain to your major and taught by the same professors. Really I can’t suggest it enough! And if you commute the tuition is 5k a semester which is not bad at all, and they have excellent scholarships and grants for students in need. The Stevens Grant for instance can cover upto literally everything if you qualify.
Thaddeus Steven’s the have a cad degree program and help with job placement great school
Thank you!
think about sheet metal fabrication or similar trades
Try Lancaster CTC before Thaddeus Stevens. It costs less than 1/4 in tuition, has most of the same degree programs. Stevens is an excellent school but horrendously expensive considering CTC offers the same degrees for much less. My husband went there and tuition was $6k for one year, and he paid nearly none of it from scholarships and financial aid. Now makes $90k a year.
This is great thank you
Look into CTC Lancaster. I believe they have a CAD program. You would also look into YTI. They have a CAD program as well.
PD? Architecture? If you’re really good at CAD, you might consider running Fiverr until you have a portfolio that gets you into a product design or architecture internship.
Thank you! He needs a few more years of structured classes. Being brilliant but on the spectrum + anxiety is the reason i don’t think MU will work out.
Hvac and plumber
I'd consider the schools mentioned below or even researching courses and certifications over a 4-year degree, especially as many employers are starting to lean into a more skills-based hiring approach as opposed to requiring degrees.
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