City Colleges of Chicago Launches School of Engineering, Expands Program to Harold Washington and Truman Colleges (Chicago, IL) – City Colleges of Chicago has officially launched its new School of Engineering, broadening access to STEM education across the city and naming Dr. Doris Espiritu as its inaugural districtwide dean.
The new school builds on the success of the engineering program at Wilbur Wright College, which began in 2015 with just a handful of students and has since grown to more than 650. The model is now expanding to Harold Washington College and Harry S Truman College, creating new opportunities for students pursuing careers in engineering and computer science.
Students in the program benefit from guaranteed transfer pathways, including the Engineering Access Alliance, which offers enhanced admissions to the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“City Colleges offer Chicagoans a high-quality, affordable, and accessible engineering education with a pathway to Illinois’ top-ranked engineering bachelor’s degree program,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado. “With this expansion, now even more diverse and talented Chicagoans can pursue sought-after engineering careers that can transform their lives and our communities.”
Dr. Espiritu, who spearheaded the original Wright College program, said she is excited to see its reach extended. “What began with just a handful of students has grown into a powerhouse of opportunity sending hundreds of students to great engineering schools and onward to successful careers,” she said. “I’m simply thrilled to expand this program and inspired to do more, especially when I see the enthusiasm of our students.”
Espiritu now serves as the districtwide dean and head of the School of Engineering, overseeing programs at all participating colleges.
Applications for the Spring 2026 semester are currently open, with Fall 2026 applications set to open in November. Overview for the program: https://engineering.ccc.edu/program-benefits/
City Colleges of Chicago Launches School of Engineering, Expands Program to Harold Washington and Truman Colleges
