Our Town Dalton: Dalton State College Caters to All Students

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Dalton State College looks like any other school. But it's one of only three colleges in all of Georgia that pairs both two year technical programs with traditional four-year degrees. Angela Harris is the Director of Admissions. She explains: "This really gives us an opportunity to serve students in our region and in this area in a broad sense."

A diverse group of students takes advantage of this. Daniel Sanchez is in his third year of pre-med. "After my first year, I just kind of got hooked on it and got got really involved with extra curricular activities and now I just got re-elected as student body president," he says.

Sanchez will be part of the first graduating class for the biology degree.

Angela Daugherty just finished up the two year program to become a Registered Nurse. She says the hands-on nature of the program prepared her for a career. "I've rode with an ambulance, been at a wound clinic, dialysis, cancer center," Daugherty explains. "They do a really good job at giving us diversity."

Missy Collins finished her first year of the two year Respiratory Therapy program. She plans to combine both types of education. "I would like to go on later and work toward my bachelor's after I graduate and get my license," she adds.

The mother juggles her course load with family life. "They asked what does Mommy do for a hobby? And he was writing about me and he said, 'study!'" Collins says, laughing.

Motivated students like these let Dalton State take the steps from junior college to one that now offers more than a dozen degree programs.

Matthew Queener is an admissions counselor. He adds: "Hopefully moving to university status and adding masters degrees in the next couple of years. Just lots of options for students."

Dalton State offers in-state tuition rates for Hamilton and Bradley Counties in Tennessee.