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Mar 07, 2024

Enrollment up at Thaddeus Stevens College in Lancaster

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Monday was the first day of school for students at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster. "Today is the day where

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

Monday was the first day of school for students at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster.

"Today is the day where they're just asking, 'Where is this building?' They just want to know, 'Where the heck am I going?'" president Pedro Rivera said.

Rivera greeted some of the 1,500 students as they started their first day of classes. That's the highest number ever.

Some students headed to classes that have doubled in size since last year.

Kyle Nolt, of Richland, and Carla Troche Munoz, of Ephrata, are in computer and network systems administration.

"It's becoming more and more of a necessity for security to become a focus in most people's lives," Nolt said.

"At first, I was going to go to a four-year college, but then I decided to come here. Not only is it way more affordable, but it's just two years," Munoz said.

Majors, including residential remodeling, electro-mechanical and electrical construction management, also doubled.

"I want to invent something new, actually. That's what I want to do. Something that nobody ever thought about," said Fedesa Tafesse, of Manheim Township.

Monday was also the first day for a new women's center — a place that the female campus can gather to feel safe, comfortable and supported.

This year, 12% of students are women.

"They're extremely successful, it's just us creating an environment where they feel welcomed and they feel that they can be part of this," Rivera said.

Rivera said the college has a 97% job placement rate.

"Those students are making $20, $25 an hour in their internship. So, when you think about if there's a need, they're making more money than most jobs – while interning," he said.

Last year, the school said there were 22 job opportunities for every graduate. Those graduates had an average starting salary of $47,000.

Video below: Which stores have the best back-to-school prices?