Pickens Technical College: Focused on community, recognized nationally

We are deeply proud to share that Pickens Technical College, right here in Aurora, has  been named one of USA Today’s 2025 Top 250 Vocational Schools in America. 

This recognition isn’t just about Pickens – it’s about our community. It reflects the people we serve every single day and the commitment we’ve made to supporting meaningful career paths for our neighbors. The programs offered on our campus (more  than 25 certificate options across the arts, health care, natural sciences, skilled trades, and more) are built intentionally for the people who call Aurora home: high school  students eager to take their first step, working adults ready to level up, career changers looking for a fresh start, and anyone who’s been carrying a passion they never had the chance to explore. For so many in Aurora, Pickens isn’t just a school. It’s a launching  pad. 

Getting recognition like this from USA Today is no small feat, and to be ranked among the top vocational schools nationwide is truly an honor. But we didn’t just make the list  – we earned a five-star rating, the highest possible. Achievements like this don’t  happen overnight, and they don’t happen without a community behind them. 

It’s our students, instructors, families, and partners who breathe life into this campus  every single day: these are the people who make Pickens great. Our community is deeply important to us, and we see how our commitment to that shows up daily in the  classroom and in the halls. We see it in the kind of support students offer one another and in the pride our instructors take in each student’s journey. 

Justin, a Motorcycle Service Technology student, said,  

“The community is very strong… there’s mutual respect between all learners. It’s fantastic to be at a school like that.” 

For Justin, the atmosphere at Pickens isn’t just about the academic experience – it’s  about the sense of belonging that pushes him to keep striving. 

From the instructor’s point of view, that sense of connection is just as powerful. Darcy,  an instructor with the Automotive Technology department, reflected on the supportive relationships he’s witnessed and been a part of on campus, calling Pickens “family.”  When instructors feel like family, students feel that too. And that closeness shapes the learning environment in ways that ripple across programs and departments. 

Awards and rankings are meaningful, but the lived experiences of our community members – students finding confidence, instructors guiding the next generation,  families celebrating new career beginnings – are what truly define Pickens. These are the stories that make our campus special. 

This national recognition fuels our mission to serve. It reminds us why we show up  every day and why we continue expanding our offerings and advocating for accessible technical education in our community. We are not just preparing students – we are strengthening the local workforce and building a foundation for long-term success that  will impact Aurora for years to come.

More than anything, this recognition serves as a reminder that investing in our people  and our future creates ripple effects that move far beyond our classrooms – across our  city, throughout Colorado, and ultimately across the country. We are honored to serve  Aurora, proud of the trust our community places in us, and excited for what comes next.Thank you to our community, our instructors, and our students for trusting us with  your education. Your success is our greatest pride, and your futures give meaning to  the work each of us here at Pickens does!