Capitol Technology University’s mission is to educate individuals for proficient opportunities in engineering, computer and information sciences, and business. It aims to prepare individuals for professional careers and affords the opportunity to thrive in a dynamic world.
Education, lays down the foundations of a developed citizen and, thus, a developed nation. Learning holds the key to numerous opportunities, when leveraged to its optimum. It is only when we learn that we are driven towards progress, and the journey is both endless and enlightening. This subsequently implies the vitality of an educational institution playing the role of a guiding light in that journey. Thus, in our endeavor to discover and exhibit the 20 most valuable online colleges in America, we came across an institution which redefines the benchmarks of comprehensive education. This is Capitol Technology University, providing top-notch learning experiences that lead an individual to success in the evolving global community.
The university was initially founded in Washington, DC, as the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute in 1927 by Eugene H. Rietzke. A Navy veteran and radio operator, Rietzke foresaw the need for an advanced school that could produce talented radio and electronics technicians. Over the subsequent decades, Capitol Tech expanded into a college and then, in 2014, a full-fledged university. Today, it offers more than 21 associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, 10 master’s degree programs, and 6 doctoral programs.
Capitol Tech offers courses in both traditional and online formats. Most undergraduate programs are on-campus, with third and fourth-year classes available online. Master’s programs are 100% online. Doctoral programs range from low-residency to 100% online. Being a military-friendly institution, Capitol Tech offers tuition discounts and other benefits to active duty personnel and veterans, as well as asynchronous courses that can be taken by soldiers stationed anywhere in the world. The university is part of the air force’s AU-ABC program, which provides a pathway to a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity for airmen enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
Capitol Technology University seeks to prepare graduates who demonstrate four characteristics, viz. employability, communications, preparation of the mind, and professionalism. The university being a majority/minority school, harbors diversity by delivering programs that cater to students from any and every cultural background. Special attention is emphasized on recruitment of minority populations for all of the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Student organizations such as the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) contribute to a vibrant, diverse campus life.
Academics Par Excellence
Capitol Tech has achieved a national recognition for its Cybersecurity program, which was one of the first in the nation. Launched in 2002, the program has received unparalleled designations from the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency as a Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cybersecurity education. In 2010, the university launched the nation’s first doctoral degree in Cybersecurity; the doctoral program continues to attract highly-qualified Cybersecurity professionals seeking to advance their careers or become recognized thought-leaders.
The Astronautical Engineering Program at Capitol Technology University successfully places graduates into exciting career opportunities within the space industry. Students in the program receive the opportunity to participate in NASA programs such as the RockSat-X. Graduates of the program go on to critical roles in NASA missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope. The university responds to evolving industry needs through the development of new programs, such as its undergraduate and graduate degree programs in critical infrastructure, mechatronics engineering, and unmanned and autonomous systems.
The efficiency and comprehensiveness that these academic programs carry are evidently visible in the accolades the university has received, and also through the invaluable alumnus who avidly contribute to the betterment of the society. Capitol Tech is one of a select group of colleges and universities that are designated by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cybersecurity education.
Capitol Tech graduates such as Scarlin Hernandez go on to have successful careers in some of today’s most exciting fields. Scarlin is a spacecraft engineer for NASA’s signature space mission, the James Webb Space Telescope. As a distinguished woman engineer from a minority background in a field that has often struggled to achieve diversity, Scarlin is making history. Recently, the online magazine Remezcla named her among 10 Latinas making their mark on STEM. In 2017, the Society for Women Engineers (SWE) highlighted her work in a special feature marking Hispanic Heritage Month, and also in the previous year, NASA featured her in a video presentation.
Opening the Doors to Prominence
Capitol Tech’s graduates pave their way towards successful careers across a myriad of technology and business fields. Many work for federal agencies, including the NSA, NASA, NOAA, and the DoD, while others are employed by federal contractors or by companies in the private sector. The hiring rate for Capitol Tech graduates is high, wherein 85% of graduates land jobs within their fields in less than six months after graduation.
Under an agreement known as The Capitol Technology University Commitment, the university pledges that graduates will find employment in their fields at a competitive salary, within 90 days of graduation, or receive additional coursework at no extra cost. Capitol Tech has developed a thorough program of career development for its students, including coaching and mentoring, workshops, and a twice-yearly career conference that attracts employers from around the region.
The university maintains partnerships with a growing array of companies and organizations, including Parsons Corporation, DSA, and SAS. It is a participating partner with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Capitol Technology University has consistently attracted a diverse student body. It encourages students to celebrate diversity through on-campus clubs and activities, as well as through special events, including presentations by distinguished scientists and engineers from minority backgrounds. The university also works to foster gender diversity on campus, both through recruitment efforts and by supporting programs designed to encourage more women to enter STEM fields.
A Personification of Distinction
Dr. Bradford L Sims, Capitol Technology University’s President, has been involved with technology from an early age. As a child, he received a Commodore 64 for his birthday and taught himself basic programming so he could do more with his new computer. As a college student, he attended Purdue University and graduated and obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Building Construction Management. He worked coast to coast in the United States and briefly in Europe in the project management area of industrial construction; pertaining to his technology background, he was also involved with computer systems at each company.
Following his flourishing private sector career, Dr. Sims returned to higher education. He obtained an MS in building construction from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Purdue University, subsequently becoming an assistant professor at the University of Florida. As he moved to different universities, he advanced in administrative positions, becoming a department head, dean, chief academic officer, and president.
At Capitol Technology University, he is spearheading the nation’s first degree programs in critical infrastructure, designed to equip a new generation of students with the skills and knowledge they need, to help protect the most essential facilities and services from attack. He has also overseen the launch of new programs in mechatronics engineering, unmanned and autonomous systems, aviation, and other fields.
“I value being able to be around and develop programs that I feel will provide good careers for students, whether they’re undergraduates or adult learners, including active and retired military. I want somebody to take an educational program, whether it’s for credit or not credit, and be able to utilize that to build a good career, one that enables them to take care of themselves and their families,” Dr. Sims has said.
Rewarding the Worthy
At Capitol Tech, a full array of institutional, corporate, foundation and endowed scholarships are available to students. High school and transfer applicants for undergraduate acceptance are automatically reviewed for merit-based scholarships. The Capitol Scholars Program offers students the opportunity for a tuition-free education at Capitol Tech. Each year, at least five outstanding incoming freshmen are designated a full four-year scholarship under the program.
As a DHS and NSA-recognized Center for Academic Excellence, Capitol Tech is also among a select group of schools offering the Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP). Students chosen for this prestigious opportunity receive full scholarship packages including undergraduate or graduation tuition as well as a stipend for room and board. In exchange, for each year that they receive the scholarship, recipients agree to provide one year of paid Cybersecurity work for the federal government after graduation.
