Higher Education
Augustana College Science Class

Building the talent pipeline

QC, That’s Where our family of communities has outstanding higher education institutions that support employers along with existing and future employees.

It’s where those looking to advance their education with a certificate, credential, a two-year, four-year or graduate degree have a broad range of educational options to choose from. With 40 colleges and universities within a 90-mile radius of the Quad Cities, you can choose the educational experience that’s right for you. It’s where nearly 160,000 students are enrolled and produce 40,000 graduates per year, providing a highly educated talent pipeline for area businesses. If you’re looking for more of a research-based institution, there are eight land grant institutions within a 300-mile radius of the Quad Cities. 


The QC’s educational attainment is competitive with communities across the nation:

  • 41% have completed education or training beyond high school
  • 26% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher (Census 2020) 

Post-secondary educational institutions, located in the metro Quad Cities


Signature educational programs in the Quad Cities

  • Local employers give strong accolades to the Supply Chain Management program at Western Illinois University – Quad Cities as it integrates corporate best practices and hands-on experience to build relevant industry skills.
  • The Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and General Engineering programs at Western Illinois University – Quad Cities Campus were built with specific insight from Quad Cities’ manufacturers and engineering firms.
  • Due to its strong reputation, graduates of the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ Truck Driving program are typically offered positions even before completing the program.
  • Blackhawk College’s IGNITE program provides student exposure to a variety of industries and technologies through 47 interactive computer lessons in the college’s newly installed Amatrol Equipment lab. They gain hands-on skills and apply those new skills to 12 mini-projects. Working through each station in the lab, they learn about topics such as basic robot operation, basic electrical concepts and introduction to solid modeling.
Tami Petsche
Contact
Tami Petsche
Vice President, Business & Economic Growth
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The heart of the Midwest
QC, That's Where? It's where two states and one mighty Mississippi River are home to a family of communities making the Midwest's future.