A recent report shows Wisconsin technical colleges are graduating more students who stay and work in the state.

According to MATC out of last years working graduates, 96% work in Wisconsin.

“I’m starting out in the mid range so I can't complain," says graduating senior Jeffrey Kral.

Jeffrey Kral's got something to brag about, he's landed a job, with good pay, in his field, right out of college.

"The courses here are real specific that help us find jobs," says Kral.

Kral's just one of several students who've opted to enroll in a technical college and now have jobs. In a new report released by MATC it shows 96% of 2005, 2006 graduates are working in Wisconsin, 81% in the Madison area.

"Actually Wisconsin technical college system does a good job of preparing people for the jobs, what is needed and that's hence real world smart," says Bettsey Barhorst MATC President.

Real World Smart, and some say it's a smarter route for college.
On average, MATC grads are reported to make 40,000 straight out of school, and with several fields to specialize in, some are calling technical colleges the new graduate school.

"Around 20,000 credit students this year 2,500 of them already have a four year or more degree because their coming back here for the training that follows," says Barhorst.

Barhorst says the reason their students are getting jobs is because they're getting out of the classroom and gaining hands-on experience

But UW students say they're having luck in the job market.

"I think it's fine, all of my friends that graduated last year, like have great jobs, like are fine, you know even the ones that it took a little longer to get a job like they're all fine now," says UW student Alisa Mirkin.