U.S. Secretary of Education praises local college for programs

October 15, 2026 - 06:35

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Rochester Community and Technical College this week as part of her ongoing tour across all 50 states. The stop marked the 44th state on her itinerary and served as her final engagement before leaving Minnesota.

During the visit, McMahon toured several career and technical education facilities and spoke with students enrolled in programs tied to healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and information technology. College officials presented details on how these programs connect directly with regional employers and help fill persistent workforce gaps in southeastern Minnesota.

McMahon praised the school for aligning its curriculum with local industry needs, noting that such partnerships give students a clear path to employment without accumulating excessive debt. She also met with faculty members who described the challenges of keeping equipment and training materials current as technology changes.

The secretary's 50-state tour is intended to gather input from educators, administrators, and students ahead of planned federal adjustments to higher education funding and accountability rules. Community colleges have drawn particular attention in those discussions because of their role in short-term credentialing and adult retraining.

College leaders said the visit gave them a chance to showcase outcomes that are often overlooked in national debates focused on four-year institutions. No new funding commitments were announced during the stop.