The College of Western Idaho officially launched its Advanced Manufacturing Technology program Monday at the Nampa campus, offering Canyon County residents a pathway to high-demand manufacturing careers through a two-year associate degree or shorter certificate programs developed in partnership with major Treasure Valley employers including HP Inc., Plexus Corp, and Woodgrain Inc. The program’s first cohort of 48 students began classes this semester in a newly equipped 8,000-square-foot lab featuring CNC machines, 3D printers, robotic assembly systems, and quality inspection equipment donated by industry partners.
The program launch addresses a critical workforce gap in Canyon County and the broader Treasure Valley, where manufacturing employers consistently report difficulty finding workers with the technical skills needed to operate and maintain modern production equipment. A 2025 Idaho Department of Labor study identified advanced manufacturing technicians as one of the top five most in-demand occupations in southwestern Idaho, with starting salaries averaging $42,000-55,000 for workers with associate degrees or industry certifications.
What Students Will Learn
The program offers three tracks: a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in Advanced Manufacturing, a one-year Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining certificate, and a semester-long Industrial Automation certificate focused on robotics and programmable logic controllers. All three tracks include substantial hands-on lab time — a minimum of 60% of instructional hours are spent operating actual manufacturing equipment rather than sitting in traditional classrooms.
CWI president Bert Glandon said the program was designed from the ground up with industry input to ensure graduates have the specific skills employers need. “We didn’t create this program in an academic vacuum,” Glandon said at the launch event at CWI’s Nampa campus. “Every course, every lab exercise, every competency was developed in collaboration with the companies that will hire our graduates. That’s how you build a program that actually leads to careers, not just certificates.”
Industry Partnerships and Job Placement
HP Inc., which manufactures large-format printers at its Boise facility and employs over 2,000 workers in the Treasure Valley, has committed to hiring 15 CWI graduates annually and providing paid internship opportunities during the program. Plexus Corp, a contract electronics manufacturer with a Nampa facility employing approximately 800 workers, has pledged similar hiring commitments and donated $250,000 in equipment to the program.
Woodgrain Inc., a Canyon County-based window and door manufacturer with over 1,200 employees across its Nampa and Fruitland operations, has created an apprenticeship pathway that allows students to work part-time at Woodgrain while completing their CWI coursework. Students in the apprenticeship track earn $18-22 per hour while learning, with guaranteed full-time employment upon graduation at wages starting above $25 per hour.
“Canyon County has a manufacturing tradition that goes back generations,” said Woodgrain HR director Lisa Campbell. “This program ensures that tradition continues with a modern workforce trained on the equipment and processes that define 21st-century manufacturing.”
Accessibility and Cost
CWI’s tuition for the two-year program is approximately $7,600 — a fraction of the cost of a four-year university degree — and financial aid including Pell Grants, Idaho Opportunity Scholarships, and employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement programs is available to qualifying students. The Nampa campus location ensures accessibility for Canyon County residents without requiring a commute to Boise.
The program is designed to accommodate working adults, with evening and weekend lab sessions available for students who need to maintain employment during their studies. CWI also offers prior learning credit for students with existing manufacturing experience who want to formalize their skills with an industry-recognized credential.
What Comes Next
Applications for the fall 2026 cohort are open at cwi.edu/manufacturing. CWI will host manufacturing program open houses at the Nampa campus on April 8 and May 6, from 4-7 PM, featuring live equipment demonstrations and representatives from hiring partners. Canyon County high school students interested in dual-enrollment manufacturing courses can contact their school counselor or CWI’s outreach office at 208-562-3000.