Two convenient college campuses in Del Rio deserve gold stars for providing quality education and getting students workforce ready.

The Southwest Texas Junior College campus in Del Rio accommodates more than 1,200 students, while Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College offers students bachelor's degrees in nearly a dozen fields. Here is a little background on both institutions:

Southwest Texas Junior College, Del Rio

The SWTJC Del Rio campus is on Wildcat Drive in the northwest portion of the city. The junior college was recently ranked among the top 120 community colleges in the nation by the nonprofit Aspen Institute. The Del Rio site offers degree and certificate programs in a total of 24 fields. Those fields include a variety of workforce training curriculums such as air conditioning and refrigeration technology, auto body repair, cosmetology, heavy equipment operation, law enforcement, nurse's aide, welding and wildlife management.

Other academic fields for students to study include business, child development, computer information systems, criminal justice, engineering, homeland security and teaching.

Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College

Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College not only allows students to earn bachelor's degrees, but also master's degrees in education and business administration. The campus offers a combination of small class sizes, an appreciation of both fine arts and the sciences, and popular professional programs in a relaxed, friendly environment. Students have the opportunity to use computer laboratories, learning centers and an auditorium.

Sul Ross State University, which is a member of the Texas State University System, has a main campus in Alpine, plus three satellite campuses in Del Rio, Eagle Pass and Uvalde that combined make up Rio Grande College. Class sizes are small to guarantee higher levels of personal attention from instructors and the university's support staff.

Sul Ross State also offers students plenty to do in their free time, such as several student clubs and organizations along with a strong athletic tradition.

San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District

The San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District provides education to elementary, middle and high school students. There are 13 schools in the district - nine elementary schools, two middle schools, Del Rio Freshman School and Del Rio High School, which has about 3,000 students. The high school has a program - Project Lead the Way - that allows students to take courses aimed at helping them become problem solvers. It's one of many programs designed to help develop the local manufacturing workforce, which extends into Mexico.