City Colleges of Chicago Launches School of Engineering

City Colleges of Chicago Launches School of Engineering

Expands Successful Wilbur Wright College Model to Harold Washington and Truman Colleges, Names Dr. Espiritu as its Inaugural Dean

CHICAGO — It is official: City Colleges of Chicago has launched its new School of Engineering, marking a major expansion of its commitment to STEM education and naming Dr. Doris Espiritu as the inaugural Districtwide Dean – Head of the School of Engineering.

This program, spearheaded by Dr. Doris Espiritu, builds on the proven success of the engineering program at Wilbur Wright College and now extends to Harold Washington College and Harry S. Truman College.

Tailored for those interested in engineering and computer science, the launch of the School of Engineering at City Colleges of Chicago provides increased access to high-quality education and transfer pathways, including the enhanced guaranteed admissions-Engineering Access Alliance into the Grainger College of Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Learn more by visiting www.ccc.edu/engineering.

“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, City Colleges of Chicago. “With this expansion, now even more diverse and talented Chicagoans can pursue sought-after engineering careers that can transform their lives and our communities.”

It all started in 2015 at Wright College with a hand-full of students. Today the program has grown to more than 650, with graduates having gone on to top 4-year engineering schools across the state and country with many graduating and finding great careers in this field of study.

“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,” said Dr. Espiritu. “I’m simply thrilled to expand this program and inspired to do more, especially when I see the enthusiasm of our students, it compels us all here at City Colleges to do more.”

As part of the launch, Dr. Doris Espiritu, now the Districtwide Dean and Head of the School of Engineering, leads the School of Engineering at all of its sites.

If you are interested in joining the engineering program, email engineering@ccc.edu. For an overview of the program, click here. Application for Spring 2026 is now open. Application for Fall 2026 will open in November 2025.

City Colleges of Chicago prepares more than 73,000 students annually with a quality, affordable education leading to transfer, careers, and a path to upward mobility. City Colleges encompasses seven colleges: Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S Truman College, Wilbur Wright College and Harold Washington College, five satellite sites: Dawson Technical Institute, South Chicago Learning Center, Arturo Velasquez Institute, Wright-Humboldt Park, and the West Side Learning Center, along with the Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute.

For more information about City Colleges of Chicago, or to register, call (773) COLLEGE, visit www.ccc.edu, or find us on Facebook (City Colleges of Chicago), Twitter (@ChiCityColleges), or Instagram (citycollegeschicago).

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