| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year technical college; campus-based, with 20 programs online |
| Locations | 3 campuses (Kenosha, Racine, Elkhorn) and 4 training centers, all in southeast Wisconsin |
| Credentials | Associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates and apprenticeship classes |
| Programs | 69 associate degrees and technical diplomas, 42 certificates, 12 apprenticeships |
| Typical length | From a single 75-hour course to two-year associate degrees |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission; continued after the February 2020 visit with no concerns; next visit 2029-30 |
| Federal aid | Yes, school code 005389; some short diplomas are not eligible |
| 2026-27 tuition | $157.45 per credit for Wisconsin residents in career programs; $236.18 out of state |
| Students | 20,443 people in total, 9,144 in degree programs (WTCS 2026-27 Guidebook); most attend part-time |
| Founded | 1911, as the Racine Continuation School; Gateway Technical College since 1987 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Gateway: the public technical college for Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties
Gateway Technical College traces its start to the Racine Continuation School of 1911, often described as the first publicly funded technical school in America; the Racine and Kenosha schools merged in 1971 and took the Gateway name in 1972. It is one of the 16 colleges of the Wisconsin Technical College System, run by its own district board, and the WTCS Board sets tuition for all of them.
Gateway teaches at three campuses, in Kenosha, Racine and Elkhorn, and at four specialized centers: public safety in Burlington, transportation and aviation in Kenosha, manufacturing in Sturtevant and evening classes at a Kenosha high-school technology academy. About 20 programs can be taken online. Recent changes include a new Respiratory Therapy degree (fall 2025), a $3 million dental suite in Racine (fall 2026) and a new president from July 2026 after an interim year.
Programs at Gateway’s campuses and centers
Gateway lists 69 associate degrees and technical diplomas, 42 certificates and 12 apprenticeships. The table shows the main career programs. Costs are the college’s whole-program estimates from each program page (tuition and fees, then books and supplies; checked October 2026). The pages link 2026-27 curriculum sheets but do not date the estimates.
| Program | Credential | Length / schedule | Where | Prepares for | College estimate: tuition and fees + books |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (ADN, RN) | AAS, 66 credits | About 2 years; part-time track | Elkhorn, Kenosha, Racine | NCLEX-RN | $12,551 + $5,349 |
| Practical Nursing | Diploma, 30 credits | Under 1 year full-time | Elkhorn, Racine | NCLEX-PN | $5,705 + $1,066 |
| Nursing Assistant | Diploma, 2 credits (75 hours) | One course | Elkhorn, Kenosha, Racine | Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry | $370 + $248 |
| Medical Assistant | Diploma, 32 credits | About 9 months full-time | Elkhorn, Kenosha, Racine; online hybrid | AMT RMA | $5,979 + $2,551 |
| Dental Assistant | Diploma, 33 credits | Under 1 year | Racine | DANB CDA | $6,767 + $2,633 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | AAS, 62 credits | About 2 years; hybrid | Racine | ASCP BOC | $12,576 + $1,239 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | AAS, 65 credits | About 2 years | Kenosha | NPTE-PTA | $11,625 + $5,266 |
| Surgical Technology | AAS, 62 credits | About 2 years | Kenosha | CST (NBSTSA) | $11,478 + $5,349 |
| Respiratory Therapy | AAS, 63 credits | About 2 years | Kenosha | NBRC | $11,393 (tuition and fees) |
| Veterinary Technician | AAS, 66 credits | About 2 years | Elkhorn | VTNE | $11,613 + $5,266 |
| EMT | Diploma, 7 credits (180 hours) | One semester | HERO Center, Kenosha, Racine | NREMT | $1,353 + $412 |
| EMT–Paramedic | Diploma, 39 credits | Fall start | HERO Center | NREMT | $7,540 + $3,127 |
| Fire Science | Diploma, 25 credits | – | HERO Center | Wisconsin Firefighter I and II objectives | $5,038 + $1,847 |
| Law Enforcement 720 Academy | 22 credits (720 hours) | Spring or summer start | Kenosha | LESB approval (with an agency job) | $6,159 + $1,811 |
| Truck Driving | Diploma, 10 credits (360 hours) | About 2 months full-time | Horizon Center | Class A permit; CDL exam | $2,453 + $107 |
| Aeronautics–Pilot Training | AAS, 61 credits | About 2 years | Horizon Center | FAA Part 141 pilot certificates | $66,239 + $5,266 |
| Automotive Technology | AAS, 65 credits | Fall start | Horizon Center | ASE, NC3 | $18,788 + $5,266 |
| Diesel Equipment Mechanic | Diploma, 33 credits | About 1 year | Horizon Center | – | $7,085 + $2,387 |
| Welding | Diploma, 43 credits | Day or night | Elkhorn, Racine | Gateway welding certifications | $10,599 + $3,617 |
| HVAC-R | Diploma, 39 credits | Full- or part-time | Elkhorn, Kenosha | EPA Section 608 | $8,081 + $3,127 |
| CNC Programmer | Diploma, 39 credits | 3 semesters; day or night | Elkhorn, iMET Center | Haas, NC3 | $8,067 + $3,622 |
| Advanced Manufacturing Technology | AAS, 65 credits | Fall start | iMET Center | – | $12,421 + $5,266 |
| Building Trades–Carpentry | Diploma, 33 credits | About 1 year | Kenosha | – | $6,160 + $2,551 |
| Cosmetology | Diploma, 44 credits | Fall or spring start | Racine, Burlington | Wisconsin cosmetology licence | $8,098 + $3,127 |
| Barber Technologist | Diploma, 25 credits | 2 semesters, weekdays | Kenosha | Wisconsin State Barber License exam | $4,601 + $2,058 |
| Culinary Arts | AAS, 60 credits | – | Racine, Elkhorn | ServSafe Manager | $13,389 + $5,184 |
| IT–Cybersecurity Specialist | AAS, 64 credits | – | Racine; online | CompTIA, Cisco, Red Hat | $11,321 + $5,266 |
| Legal Studies/Paralegal | AAS, 60 credits | Fall start | Online | – | $10,525 |
Many programs carry their own accreditation: ACEN for both nursing programs, CODA for dental assisting, CAAHEP for medical assisting, surgical technology and paramedic, NAACLS for the lab program, CAPTE for the PTA degree, AVMA (initial accreditation) for veterinary technology, CSHSE for Human Services, the ASE Education Foundation for automotive technology, and CoARC (provisional) for the new respiratory degree. Pilot training runs as an FAA Part 141 school. Apprenticeships in 12 trades, from construction electrician and plumber to tool and die maker, need an employer or trade-committee sponsor.
Gateway does not teach Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy, Dental Hygiene or Radiography, and the Ophthalmic Medical Assistant program shared with Lakeshore Technical College is no longer on its list.
What the main programs cover
Nursing (ADN)
The 66-credit degree is taught at Elkhorn, Kenosha and Racine, full-time in about two years or on a part-time track, with fall, spring and summer starts. Applicants move through pre-core, core-ready and core-active stages: they need a B- in General Anatomy and Physiology, a C in Nursing Assistant and a HESI A2 score of at least 75%, and the program says it has no entry wait-lists. Licensed practical nurses can enter through an LPN–ADN Bridge. Gateway says the degree meets Wisconsin RN licensure requirements and has not determined whether it does so for other states.
Truck Driving (CDL)
This 10-credit, 360-hour diploma at the Horizon Center takes about two months full-time, with fall, spring and summer starts. In the first course students go to a Wisconsin DMV for the General Knowledge, Air Brakes and Combination Vehicle tests and earn a Class A commercial learner’s permit; the rest of the program prepares them for the CDL exam. Applicants need a Class D licence, a DOT medical card and a drug test, and openings are limited. The program is not eligible for federal aid.
Aeronautics–Pilot Training
The 61-credit degree is taught as an FAA Part 141 pilot school from the Horizon Center, with a fall start. Students work through the private pilot certificate (single-engine land), the instrument rating and commercial single- and multi-engine certificates, and graduates can qualify for a restricted airline transport pilot certificate at 1,250 hours. A first- or second-class FAA medical certificate is required, and students who are not US citizens need TSA approval. Flight costs are listed in a separate college spreadsheet, so ask for it before applying.
Welding
The 43-credit diploma runs by day and at night at Elkhorn and Racine, with fall, spring and summer starts. The first semester is a complete 16-credit Welding/Maintenance & Fabrication diploma, so students who stop after one semester still hold a credential, although that short diploma is not aid-eligible on its own. Students can earn Gateway-issued flux-cored, aluminum tensile and steel plate certifications, and the program includes a simulated structural steel opportunity. The program page does not name NC3 or Lincoln Electric credentials.
EMT–Paramedic
The 39-credit diploma at the HERO Center in Burlington combines 650 hours of lecture and lab with up to 500 clinical and field hours, and starts in fall. It is accredited by CAAHEP through CoAEMSP. The HERO Center is Gateway’s fire and EMS training site and runs scenario and disaster-simulation training. Gateway also teaches the 7-credit EMT diploma at the HERO Center, Kenosha and Racine, and Advanced EMT at the HERO Center; the 65-credit Paramedic Technician degree is the associate-degree version of paramedic training.
Law Enforcement 720 Academy
The 22-credit, 720-hour academy is taught at the Kenosha Campus, using a simulation house and a firearms range, with spring and summer starts. Entry requires an associate degree or 40 college credits, or sponsorship by an agency, plus a physical readiness test, a background check and an interview. Finishing the academy does not by itself make someone an officer: Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Standards Board must approve them and they need a job with an agency. The separate Criminal Justice Studies degree, taught in Kenosha and online, is described by the college as a route into the academy.
2026-27 tuition, fees and paying for it
The WTCS Board sets the same per-credit tuition for all 16 Wisconsin technical colleges.
| 2026-27, per credit | Wisconsin resident | Out of state |
|---|---|---|
| Career programs (associate degree, diploma, certificate) | $157.45 | $236.18 |
| University transfer (AA/AS) | $196.05 | $294.08 |
Gateway adds a student activity fee of $10.23 and a parking and technology fee of $5.50 per credit, so a resident career-program credit costs $173.18 with those two fees. Other charges include a $6 material fee per lecture class (some courses have more), $4.50 student accident insurance per semester, a $78 digital access fee for each participating course and a $30 application fee. The college’s own estimate for a full-time year of two 15-credit semesters is $4,710 in tuition alone for a Wisconsin resident. Niche, using federal data, puts the average net price at $12,185 a year. Gateway’s tuition page states no special rate for Illinois residents or out-of-state online students.
Gateway takes federal student aid (school code 005389), but not for every program: Truck Driving, EMT, Advanced EMT, Nursing Assistant and Welding/Maintenance & Fabrication are not aid-eligible.
- Gateway Promise: tuition-free study for high-school seniors in the college district who have a Student Aid Index of 0, a cumulative high-school GPA of at least 2.0 plus one other multiple-measures option, enroll full-time in an aid-eligible program the fall after graduating and attend Summer Bridge.
- Scholarships: the WTCS profile says the Gateway Foundation awards more than 250 scholarships a year, and in September 2026 Eli Lilly pledged $250,000 for manufacturing scholarships. Award amounts were not published on the pages we checked.
- Wisconsin Grant – Technical College: the state’s need-based grant, with a 2025-26 maximum of $1,752 (WTCS figures).
- Veterans: Gateway accepts federal VA education benefits, Wisconsin (WDVA) education benefits, military Tuition Assistance and MyCAA for military spouses, and shows a “Military Friendly School 2026-2027 Gold” badge. Help is through the Student Services Centers in Kenosha, Racine and Elkhorn.
Open admission, with entry steps for many programs
Anyone can apply to the college. Program admission uses “multiple measures”: any one of a technical diploma or higher degree, a 2.6 high-school GPA, a 2.0 college GPA, or ACT or Accuplacer scores. Health programs then move students through pre-core, core-ready and core-active stages; the nursing degree needs a HESI A2 score of at least 75% and Practical Nursing at least 70%. The Law Enforcement Academy, Truck Driving and Pilot Training have their own entry requirements (credits or sponsorship, a DOT medical card and drug test, an FAA medical).
Most programs start only in fall. Nursing, Medical Assistant, EMT and Welding also start in spring and summer, and Surgical Technology and Dental Assistant start in summer. Welding and CNC run day and night sections, Barber Technologist meets weekdays from 8:10 to 5, and Human Resources is taught online in six-week accelerated classes.
Accreditation and results
Gateway is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission for all its campuses, centers and online programs. After the February 2020 reaffirmation visit, HLC continued its accreditation with no concerns, and the next visit is due in 2029-30. Gateway says it takes part in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which lets it enroll online students from other member states, and it appears on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact’s Wisconsin SARA participation list for 2024-25.
Gateway’s Graduate Follow-Up for 2022-23 graduates surveyed 2,125 people and heard from 1,193 (56%). Of those in the labor force, 92% were employed 6 to 12 months after finishing, and 72% of employed graduates worked in a job related to their program; median salary was $59,055 for those working at least 35 hours a week in a related job. Because only those in the labor force are counted and just over half responded, this is not the share of all graduates with jobs. The federal graduation rate shown by Niche is 51%, a different measure. Program results published on Gateway’s pages:
| Program | Published result | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing (ADN) | NCLEX-RN 87.42% first attempt, 95.03% overall; 98% employed in the field within 6 months | 2025 |
| Practical Nursing | NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate 93.5%, 95%, 100% | 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| EMT–Paramedic | NREMT written and practical 100%; retention 96.2%; placement 88% | 2023 |
| Surgical Technology | CST pass rate 78% (7 of 9) | 2025 |
| Veterinary Technician | VTNE first-time pass rate 75% (32 candidates) | 2022-24 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | NPTE 62.5% first-time, 81.25% ultimate; graduation 66.67% | 2023-24 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | ASCP BOC pass rate 50%; graduation 87.5%; placement 100% | 2025 |
Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Respiratory Therapy, HVAC-R, Welding, Cosmetology and Barber pages give no pass rates.
Before you enroll
- Short programs may not qualify for aid. Truck Driving, EMT, Advanced EMT, Nursing Assistant and the 16-credit Welding/Maintenance & Fabrication diploma are not eligible for federal student aid.
- Some results are weak. Medical Laboratory Technician reported a 50% ASCP pass rate for 2025, and only 62.5% of 2023-24 PTA graduates passed the national exam on the first try. Respiratory Therapy is new and has only provisional CoARC accreditation, with no results yet.
- Program names can mislead. Electrical Engineering Technology trains engineering technicians, not electricians (electricians train through a sponsored apprenticeship). Architectural–Structural Engineering Technician trains drafters, not architects. Foundations of Teacher Education leads to substitute-teacher licensure and transfer, not a teaching licence.
- Funeral Service is finished at another college. Students take about 30 credits at Gateway and complete the degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College, whose funeral service accreditation from ABFSE was placed on probation in April 2026.
- Nursing licensure outside Wisconsin is not confirmed. Gateway says the nursing degree meets Wisconsin requirements and that it has not determined whether it meets other states’ requirements.
Seven teaching locations
| Location | Address | Main programs there |
|---|---|---|
| Kenosha Campus (main) | 3520 – 30th Avenue, Kenosha | Nursing, PTA, Surgical Technology, Respiratory Therapy, HVAC-R, Carpentry, Barber, Horticulture, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Academy |
| Racine Campus | 1001 S. Main Street, Racine | Nursing, Practical Nursing, Dental Assistant, MLT, Welding, Cosmetology, Culinary, IT degrees, Early Childhood |
| Elkhorn Campus | 400 County Road H, Elkhorn | Nursing, Practical Nursing, Veterinary Technician, Welding, HVAC-R, Culinary, CNC, Graphic Design |
| HERO Center | 380 McCanna Parkway, Burlington | EMT, Advanced EMT, Paramedic, Fire Science |
| Horizon Center for Transportation Technology | 4940 88th Avenue, Kenosha | Automotive, Diesel, Truck Driving, Pilot Training |
| SC Johnson iMET Center | 2320 Renaissance Blvd., Sturtevant | Advanced Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering Technology, Electromechanical, CNC, Construction Management, apprenticeships |
| LakeView Advanced Technology Center | 5533 26th Avenue, Kenosha | Electromechanical Maintenance Technician (evenings) |
The Inspire Center, with the human patient simulation lab, is part of the Kenosha Campus. The Cosmetology program page also lists Burlington as a location, and cosmetology and barber students serve clients at The Cut Powered by Andis, a student salon at 425 Milwaukee Ave. in Burlington; The college’s pages do not say where Burlington cosmetology classes meet; the Burlington Center that once held them is no longer on Gateway’s campus page, so students should confirm the classroom location with Gateway.
Career help and built-in work experience
Gateway’s campus, cost and career pages mention no college housing. Career and Employment Services runs a Handshake job and internship board, resume reviews by a certified resume writer, mock interviews and career fairs, booked by phone, online or at the Student Services Centers. Clinical or field hours are built into several programs: 160 to 216 practicum hours in Medical Assistant, 288 clinical hours in the lab program, more than 500 in the PTA degree and up to 500 in paramedic training. Students in cosmetology and barbering work on the public at student salons in Racine, Kenosha and Burlington, and three campuses host Pearson VUE testing.
What students say on Niche
On Niche, Gateway is rated 3.94 out of 5 from 354 reviews, with an overall grade of B (checked October 2026); about two-thirds of the ratings are four or five stars. Reviewers most often praise caring, knowledgeable instructors, small classes, flexible online and in-person options and affordable career training. The main complaints concern a nursing program some found disorganized, with hard tests; the financial aid and disability offices and the enrollment process; and class availability. Only about 18 reviews showed dates, spread across 2024 and 2025, which is too few to judge whether they came in bursts. GradReports has one review and Trustpilot has no Gateway page.
Sources
Checked October 2026: Gateway campuses and centers · Programs of study · 2026-27 tuition and fees · Affiliations and accreditation · Online learning and SARA · Graduate Follow-Up 2023 · WTCS college profile · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Nursing (Associate Degree, RN)
- LPN–ADN Bridge / Step-In
- Practical Nursing (LPN)
- Nursing Assistant
Health Sciences
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Respiratory Therapy
- Surgical Technology
- Veterinary Technician
- Veterinary Assistant (embedded in Veterinary Technician)
Emergency Services and Public Safety
- EMT
- Advanced EMT
- EMT–Paramedic
- Paramedic Technician
- Fire Science
- Criminal Justice Studies
- Law Enforcement 720 Academy
Transportation
- Automotive Technology
- Automotive Maintenance Technician
- Diesel Equipment Technology
- Diesel Equipment Mechanic
- Truck Driving (CDL)
- Aeronautics–Pilot Training
Construction, HVAC and Facilities
- Building Trades–Carpentry
- Construction Management Technician
- Facilities Maintenance
- Refrigeration, AC and Heating Service Technician (HVAC-R)
- Architectural–Structural Engineering Technician
Manufacturing, Welding and Engineering Technology
- Welding
- Welding/Maintenance & Fabrication
- CNC Production Technician
- CNC Programmer
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology
- Electromechanical Maintenance Technician
- Electrical Engineering Technology
Apprenticeships (sponsor required)
- Construction Electrical
- Plumbing
- HVAC
- Machinist
- Tool & Die
- Maintenance Technician
- Mechatronics Technician
- Facilities Maintenance
- Arborist
- Barber
- Cosmetologist
- Culinary
Business
- Accounting
- Accounting Assistant
- Administrative Professional
- Office Assistant
- Business Management
- Small Business Specialist (certificate)
- Human Resources
- Marketing
- Supply Chain Management
- Legal Studies/Paralegal
Information Technology
- IT–Cybersecurity Specialist
- IT–Network Specialist
- IT–Software Developer
- IT–Computer Support Specialist
- IT–AI Data Specialist
Design
- Graphic Design
- Interior Design
Horticulture
- Landscape Horticulture
- Horticulture Technician
- Greenhouse Operations
Personal Services and Culinary
- Barber Technologist
- Cosmetology
- Culinary Arts
- Culinary Assistant
Education and Human Services
- Early Childhood Education
- Foundations of Teacher Education
- Human Services Associate
Shared programs
- Funeral Service (first 30 credits at Gateway; degree completed at MATC)
Campus Locations
Kenosha, WI (Kenosha Campus) 3520 - 30th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144
Racine, WI (Racine Campus) 1001 S. Main Street, Racine, WI 53403
Elkhorn, WI (Elkhorn Campus) 400 County Road H, Elkhorn, WI 53121
Burlington, WI (HERO Center) 380 McCanna Parkway, Burlington, WI 53105
Kenosha, WI (Horizon Center) 4940 88th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144
Sturtevant, WI (SC Johnson iMET Center) 2320 Renaissance Blvd., Sturtevant, WI 53177
Kenosha, WI (LakeView Advanced Technology Center) 5533 26th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53140