| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public technical college, one of the 16 Wisconsin Technical College System colleges; campus and online classes |
| Locations | Appleton and Oshkosh Riverside campuses, an aviation center and three specialty centers in Oshkosh, the Public Safety Training Center near Appleton, and regional centers in Chilton, Clintonville, Waupaca and Wautoma; all in Wisconsin |
| Programs | About 215 on the college’s program finder: associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates and apprenticeship instruction |
| Students | 45,000–50,000 people enroll each year, including about 7,300 degree-declared students (college figures) |
| Program length | From a 3-credit nursing assistant diploma and an 8-week CDL course to 60–70-credit associate degrees |
| Tuition 2026-27 | $157.45 per credit for Wisconsin residents, $236.18 for nonresidents, plus a $14.20 per-credit activity fee |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission; reaffirmed with monitoring on 30 June 2025, interim report due 30 June 2027 |
| Federal aid | Yes, for eligible programs (some short programs are not eligible) |
| Founded | District established 1967; workforce training roots go back to 1912 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
A public technical college for the Fox Valley
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) is a public two-year technical college district serving all or part of nine counties around Appleton and Oshkosh, and one of the 16 colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System, whose board sets tuition. The district was established in 1967. The college says 45,000 to 50,000 people enroll each year; about 7,300 are degree-declared students and about 1,900 are apprentices (2025-26), and over 24,000 take continuing education. Its programs include FAA-approved pilot and mechanic training in Oshkosh, a public safety training center with firearms ranges and burn props, an RN degree whose graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.17% in 2024, and rural CDL training at regional centers.
Programs at FVTC’s campuses and centers
FVTC’s program finder lists about 215 programs: associate of applied science degrees, technical diplomas, certificates and the classroom part of 22 apprenticeship trades, plus one AA and one AS for university transfer. Most are taught at Appleton; aviation, surgical technology, woodworking, construction and FABTECH diesel are in Oshkosh, and nursing assistant and CDL training reach the regional centers. The table covers the main career programs; costs are the college’s own program estimates, and a dash means the college does not say.
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for | Published cost estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing – RN Associate Degree | AAS, 65 credits | About 1–2 year wait after admission | Appleton | NCLEX-RN | $12,300 tuition and fees + $2,595 materials + $1,370 textbooks |
| Practical Nursing | Diploma, 30 credits | About 1 year wait | Appleton | NCLEX-PN | $5,300 + $2,255 + $1,070 |
| Nursing Assistant | Diploma, 3 credits | Short course | Appleton, Oshkosh, all four regional centers | Wisconsin nurse aide (DHS) | Per-credit tuition |
| Medical Assistant | Diploma, 29 credits | – | Appleton, Oshkosh | CAAHEP-accredited program | Per-credit tuition |
| Surgical Technology | AAS, 64 credits | – | Oshkosh | CAAHEP-accredited program | Per-credit tuition |
| Dental Assistant | Diploma, 33 credits | – | Appleton | CODA-accredited program | Per-credit tuition |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | AAS, 64 credits | Full-time | Appleton | COTA (Wisconsin DSPS) | Per-credit tuition |
| EMT; Paramedic | Diplomas, 7 and 38 credits | – | Appleton (Paramedic also Oshkosh); Public Safety Training Center | National Registry (EMT) | Per-credit tuition |
| Law Enforcement 720 Academy | Diploma, 23 credits | – | Appleton; Public Safety Training Center | Wisconsin DOJ LESB certification | Per-credit tuition |
| Truck Driving | Diploma, 8 credits | 8 weeks | Appleton, Chilton, Clintonville, Wautoma | Wisconsin Class A CDL | Per-credit tuition; grant reimbursement at three regional centers in 2026 |
| Diesel Equipment Technology | AAS, 65 credits; diplomas of 34–58 credits | – | Appleton; FABTECH diplomas at Oshkosh | ASE Education Foundation | Per-credit tuition |
| Welding | AAS, 63 credits; diplomas of 13–54 credits | – | Appleton; some diplomas also Oshkosh | – | Per-credit tuition |
| Precision Machinist; Machining Technician | Diplomas, 54 and 28 credits | – | Appleton | – | Per-credit tuition |
| Aeronautics–Pilot Training | AAS, 60 credits | – | Oshkosh (Spanbauer Center) | FAA private, instrument, commercial multi-engine (Part 141) | $79,400 tuition and fees + $14,755 materials + $115 textbooks |
| Airframe & Powerplant Mechanics | Diploma, 64 credits | – | Oshkosh (Spanbauer Center) | FAA mechanic ratings (Part 147) | Per-credit tuition |
| Cosmetology | Diploma, 38 credits | Full-time; about 1 year wait; day, night and Saturday sessions | Appleton | Wisconsin cosmetology licence (DSPS) | $8,400 + $195 + $655 |
| Therapeutic Massage | Diploma, 17 credits | – | Appleton | Wisconsin LMT (DSPS) | Per-credit tuition |
| Culinary Arts | AAS, 60 credits | – | Appleton | ACF-accredited program | Per-credit tuition |
| Digital Court Reporter | Diploma, 27 credits | – | Online only | No licence required in Wisconsin | Per-credit tuition (resident rate for all online students) |
| Medical Coding Specialist | Diploma, 28 credits | – | Online | – | Per-credit tuition (resident rate for all online students) |
Programs with their own accreditation include nursing (ACEN), dental assistant (CODA), medical assistant, surgical technology and neurodiagnostic technology (CAAHEP), medical laboratory technician (NAACLS), occupational therapy assistant (ACOTE), paramedic (CoAEMSP), health information technology (CAHIIM), veterinary technician (AVMA) and culinary arts (ACF), according to the college’s 2025-26 accreditation list. The Occupational Therapy Assistant degree trains assistants, not therapists, and the Digital Court Reporter diploma trains audio-recording reporters, not stenographers. Funeral Service is listed at Appleton, but it is a shared degree awarded by Milwaukee Area Technical College, which teaches the funeral-service courses. Barbering is taught only as an apprenticeship. Plumbing is mainly apprenticeship instruction for indentured apprentices with a sponsoring employer; the 8-credit Plumbing Principles certificate is an introduction and does not license a plumber. FVTC has no HVAC diploma or degree.
What the main programs cover
Nursing – RN Associate Degree
Admission to the ADN is a separate, selective step. Applicants qualify through one of four measures (high school GPA, a prior associate degree, ACT subscores in English, math and reading, or Accuplacer), must hold CNA status before core nursing courses, and pass a certified criminal background check before any clinical placement. Seats are capped, and the college says admitted students wait about one to two years for core courses. Classes are at Appleton. Practical nurses and paramedics can enter through bridge pathways, and lapsed nurses can take a refresher certificate.
Aeronautics–Pilot Training
The pilot degree runs at the Spanbauer Center in Oshkosh under FAA Part 141 rules, alongside the college’s mechanic and avionics programs. Students work through private pilot, instrument and commercial multi-engine training, and graduates are eligible for a restricted airline transport pilot certificate. Before starting, applicants need a first- or second-class FAA medical certificate, attend a pilot orientation and complete a second admission phase. The college takes Wisconsin residents only. In the 2024-25 graduate survey, every pilot respondent was employed in a related job.
Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a full-time diploma at Appleton with day, night and Saturday sessions. Seats are capped, and the college says admitted students wait about a year for core courses. Under Wisconsin’s 2017 Act 278, applicants with a criminal record can ask DSPS for a predetermination of whether it would block a licence before they enroll. Graduates apply to DSPS for the cosmetology licence. Students already working in a salon can take the 8-credit apprenticeship route instead.
Truck Driving (Class A CDL)
The truck driving diploma takes eight weeks and is aimed at the Wisconsin DOT Class A road test. At Appleton it uses the J.J. Keller Transportation Center’s outdoor driving range and skid pad; it is also taught at the Chilton, Clintonville and Wautoma regional centers, which the college added with a 2026 workforce grant. A Truck Driving apprenticeship covers the related instruction for registered apprentices, and diesel students can earn a 58-credit diploma that includes the CDL. In the 2024-25 survey, 85% of employed graduates worked in a related job.
Welding and machining
Welding students can start with a 5-credit GMAW Basic or 7-credit Welding Fundamentals certificate and build up to a diploma or the industrial welding AAS. In Oshkosh the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center has 48 welding booths and a metallurgy lab for the fabrication and production diplomas. Machining is taught at Appleton through the Precision Machinist and new Machining Technician diplomas, and employed apprentices take Machinist or Tool & Die related instruction. Graduate survey results differ a lot by program: see the outcomes table below.
Public safety academies
The Law Enforcement 720 Academy is certified by the Law Enforcement Standards Board of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Its firearms, defense and arrest tactics, jail and pursuit training take place at the Public Safety Training Center next to Appleton International Airport. Fire students train on burn and rescue props there, including water and ice, confined space and trench rescue, and EMT and paramedic students use the EMS lab and ambulance bay. The college also runs a jail officer academy and wildland fire programs.
Tuition and fees, 2026-27
Tuition is set for all Wisconsin technical colleges by the WTCS Board and rose about 3% for 2026-27. FVTC charges one Wisconsin-resident rate, with no separate in-district rate, and out-of-state tuition does not apply to online classes.
| 2026-27, per credit | Wisconsin resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (associate of applied science degrees, diplomas, certificates and apprenticeship) | $157.45 | $236.18 |
| Student activity fee | $14.20 | $14.20 |
| Total per credit | $171.65 | $250.38 |
| 12 credits | $2,059.80 | $3,004.56 |
The 12-credit row is our calculation. Other fees are a $6 material fee per class (some courses charge more), $4.50 per semester for student accident insurance and a $30 non-refundable application fee. The four program cost estimates we found run from $5,300 in tuition and fees for Practical Nursing to $79,400 for pilot training, which also lists $14,755 in materials. The college posts one per-credit rate for its AA and AS transfer degrees that differs from the WTCS guide, so confirm the transfer rate with the college. Niche shows an average net price of $10,007 a year.
Financial aid, the closed FVTC Promise and veterans’ help
FVTC takes part in federal student aid through the FAFSA, but some short programs, such as the Bookkeeping diploma, are not eligible. The FVTC Promise, which covered tuition, fees and books up to $15,000 for recent high school graduates with high financial need, is closed to new students; the college cites federal financial aid changes, and current Promise students keep it. For CDL students, a workforce grant pays just over $1,000 in tuition reimbursement to completers at the Chilton, Clintonville and Wautoma centers through 31 December 2026 (WBAY, 31 March 2026). Veterans can use federal VA benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, which requires a 2.0 GPA. The Veterans Resource Center is in Room E119 on the Appleton campus, and military training can earn credit through the Joint Services Transcript.
Admissions, waiting lists and schedules
Admission to the college is open, but several programs have their own requirements and limits. The RN degree, practical nursing and cosmetology have waits of about one to two years for core courses. Dental Hygienist and Aesthetician – Basic are closed to applications through at least Spring 2027. The RN degree, cosmetology and pilot training do not accept out-of-state applicants, and the occupational therapy assistant program must give priority to district residents. The RN degree requires a certified criminal background check before clinicals. Programs run part-time or full-time; cosmetology has day, night and Saturday sessions; truck driving takes eight weeks; and most business and IT programs, health information technology, medical coding, digital court reporting and AI Data Specialist can be taken fully online. FVTC takes part in SARA for online students in other states.
Accreditation and results
FVTC has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1974 under its Open Pathway. At its comprehensive evaluation on 30 June 2025, HLC reaffirmed the college’s accreditation with monitoring and set an interim report due 30 June 2027; HLC’s public record does not name the topic. The next reaffirmation is scheduled for 2034-35. HLC also recorded a multi-location visit on 24 May 2023 as “completed with concerns”. The college’s own accreditation page describes the 2025 result as a reaffirmation and does not mention the monitoring.
| Measure | Result | Cohort and source |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN, RN associate degree | 97.17% (103 of 106) | 2024; Wisconsin DSPS (does not say first attempts only) |
| NCLEX-PN, Practical Nursing | 100% (36 of 36) | 2024; Wisconsin DSPS |
| Graduates employed, college-wide | 91%; 83% of them in a related field | Class of 2024-25, about 6 months after graduation; college survey, 47% response |
| Average salary, college-wide | $58,806 | Same survey; the college reports averages, not medians |
| Welding Technology AAS, employed | 90%, average $71,333 | Same survey; small cohort |
| Welding/Metal Fabrication diploma, employed | 50%, none in a related field | Same survey; small cohort |
| Graduation rate | 68% | Federal data as shown on Niche, checked October 2026 |
The nursing figures come from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services’ 2024 report; we could not retrieve the 2025 report. The employment and salary figures come from the college’s own graduate survey, as summarized in our research, and program results rest on small numbers of respondents. We found no pass rates for dental, surgical technology, laboratory, occupational therapy assistant, paramedic or FAA exams. News searches found no lawsuit, settlement or state action against the college from 2023 to 2026, but we did not search court dockets.
Before you enroll
- Open admission to the college does not mean a seat in a program: the RN degree can mean a one-to-two-year wait, practical nursing and cosmetology about a year.
- Dental Hygienist and Aesthetician – Basic are closed to new applications through at least Spring 2027. The college does not list the Master Aesthetician degree as closed.
- Residents of other states cannot enroll in the RN degree, cosmetology or pilot training. Online programs are open to them at the resident rate.
- The FVTC Promise is closed to new students, so do not plan on it.
- The college’s accreditation was reaffirmed with monitoring in 2025, with an interim report due in June 2027.
Training facilities and career payoff
FVTC’s facilities are built around specific jobs: the J.J. Keller Transportation Center’s driving range and skid pad for CDL and automotive students, the Public Safety Training Center’s ranges, burn props, forensics lab and air-disaster training, the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center’s 48 welding booths, the Construction Training Center for full-scale building practice, and the Spanbauer Center’s Part 141 and Part 147 aviation programs. The college’s graduate survey found 83% of employed 2024-25 graduates working in a field related to their program.
What students say on Niche
On Niche, Fox Valley Technical College has 4.11 out of 5 from 369 reviews and an overall grade of A− (checked 8 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise kind, dedicated instructors, small classes, hands-on programs, especially in culinary and public safety, and affordable tuition. Complaints center on little campus social life and limited athletics. We could not see when the reviews were written, so we could not check for bursts of reviews or reviews invited by the college. Trustpilot has no reviews of the college.
Sources
Checked October 2026: Locations · All programs · Tuition & Fees 2026-2027 · HLC accreditation status · Wisconsin DSPS 2024 NCLEX pass rates · Graduate employment report · FVTC Promise · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Nursing – RN Associate Degree (ADN)
- LPN to ADN and Paramedic to ADN pathways
- Practical Nursing (LPN)
- Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- RN and LPN Refresher
Health Science
- Medical Assistant
- Phlebotomist/Specimen Processor
- Surgical Technology
- Dental Assistant and EFDA
- Dental Hygienist (applications closed through at least Spring 2027)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Neurodiagnostic Technologist
- Health Information Technology (online)
- Medical Coding Specialist (online)
- Veterinary Technician
Public Safety
- Emergency Medical Technician
- EMT – Paramedic
- Fire Protection Technician and Wildland Fire
- Law Enforcement 720 Academy and Law Enforcement Foundations
- Criminal Justice and Forensic Science
- Evidence Technician and Private Investigation Specialist
Transportation and Aviation
- Truck Driving (Class A CDL)
- Diesel Equipment Technology and FABTECH diesel diplomas
- Automotive Technology, Imports and GM ASEP
- Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing
- Aeronautics–Pilot Training
- Airframe & Powerplant Mechanics
- Aircraft Electronics
- Aviation Management
Manufacturing and Construction
- Welding Technology and Welding/Metal Fabrication
- Precision Machinist and Machining Technician
- Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
- Electricity and Electrical Technician
- Mechanical CAD Drafting and Mechanical Design Technology
- Woodworking Technology
- Construction Management and Residential Building
- Apprenticeships: electrician, plumbing, steamfitting, machinist, tool & die and others
Cosmetology and Massage
- Cosmetology
- Master Aesthetician
- Nail Technician
- Therapeutic Massage
- Barbering Apprentice (apprenticeship only)
Culinary, Hospitality and Design
- Culinary Arts
- Baking & Pastry
- Hospitality Management
- Interior Design and Kitchen & Bath
Business and Legal
- Accounting and Bookkeeping
- Marketing, Digital Marketing and Sales
- Business Management, Human Resources and Supply Chain Management
- Legal Studies/Paralegal
- Digital Court Reporter (online)
Technology
- Software Developer
- Network Specialist and Network Systems Administration
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Computer Support and Help Desk
- Web Design and Web Development
- AI Data Specialist (online)
Education and Human Services
- Early Childhood Education
- Foundations of Teacher Education and Teacher Apprenticeship
- Substance Use Disorder Counseling
- Funeral Service (shared degree awarded by MATC)
Campus Locations
Appleton, WI 1825 N. Bluemound Drive, Appleton, WI 54914-1643
Oshkosh, WI 150 N. Campbell Road, Oshkosh, WI 54902
Oshkosh, WI 3601 Oregon Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902
Appleton, WI W6400 County Road BB, Appleton, WI 54914
Chilton, WI 1200 E. Chestnut Street, Chilton, WI 53014
Clintonville, WI 525 S. Main Street, Clintonville, WI 54929
Waupaca, WI 1979 Godfrey Drive, Waupaca, WI 54981
Wautoma, WI 556 S. Cambridge Street, Wautoma, WI 54982