Classes, GED and English lessons for adults in Madison

Madison College

Madison Area Technical College, known as Madison College, lists more than 190 degree and certificate programs, plus transfer pathways to four-year schools, including the University of Wisconsin system. Browse programs on its academics page.

Non-credit classes. Its Professional and Continuing Education area lists noncredit courses in formats from in-person to online and on-demand. Subjects named include cooking, art and fabric arts, music and theater, healthcare, professional development and entrepreneurship workshops. It also lists employer-focused workforce training. Most classes are in Madison, and branch campuses in Fort Atkinson, Portage, Reedsburg and Watertown also offer continuing education. The course listings are at ce.madisoncollege.edu.

GED and HSED at Madison College

Madison College's high school equivalency program covers both the GED and the Wisconsin high school equivalency diploma (HSED). The college's page lists these requirements:

• You must be at least 18 and a half. Younger students can sometimes modify their high school curriculum to earn an HSED with parental and school board approval.
• You must have lived in Wisconsin for at least 10 days, or be a migrant worker or the child of one.
• You can't be enrolled in high school or already have a high school diploma.

The first step is to meet with an advisor, who helps you pick a pathway. Options named include passing four GED tests and a civics test, a competency-based program and a Spanish-language class option. Classes are offered online and in person at six campuses. Call 608-243-4199 or email hscc@madisoncollege.edu to start. The page doesn't state costs, so ask the advisor.

English language learning at Madison College

The college's English as a Second Language classes run from beginning to advanced and cover reading, writing, speaking and listening. In Madison, classes are at the Truax or Goodman South campus, with regional sites in Reedsburg, Portage, Watertown and Fort Atkinson. The college says classes are tuition-free for Wisconsin residents who are at least 18, and it lists additional eligibility rules on the ESL page, so read them there.

In Madison and Dane County, new students create a student account to get an ID number and then take a placement test online or on campus. On-campus testing is at Goodman South, Room 127, on Mondays and Thursdays, and the college says to plan for about two and a half hours. Questions can go to saa@madisoncollege.edu or 608-258-2440.

Literacy Network of Dane County

Literacy Network is a nonprofit that teaches adults in Dane County. Its site lists English classes and tutoring, reading, writing and computer tutoring, one-to-one GED and HSED tutoring and U.S. citizenship test preparation. The GED tutoring is described as free, with two-hour weekly sessions covering all test subjects, including math. Check its learner page for each program's eligibility rules, and call 608-244-3911 to talk through your goals and get matched to a program. A Madison Public Library page also says a few programs ask for a materials fee and that scholarships are available, so ask about both when you call.

UW–Madison continuing education

UW–Madison's Division of Continuing Education offers online courses, certificates and workshops for lifelong learners. Some courses are self-paced and others meet live online. Its program areas include behavioral health, humanities, languages, leadership and workplace skills, professional coaching, teaching and learning, and technology and data science. It also links to online bachelor's degrees and graduate certificates through other UW sites. The page doesn't explain how to register, so use its contact page at continuingeducation.wisc.edu. If you're thinking about campus visits, see our guide to visiting UW–Madison.

Madison Public Library learning resources

With a Madison Public Library card, you can use free online resources from the library's at home page. They include Transparent Language (language courses), Gale Peterson Test and Career Prep (practice tests for future careers and other topics), a business resources hub, Wisconsin's Digital Library for eBooks and audiobooks, Kanopy streaming and a Databases A-Z list.

The library also describes digital literacy and tech classes and one-on-one computer help, and its events calendar lists adult programs such as writing assistance and a Spanish conversation group. Library staff can show you what's offered at each branch. Browse libraries for locations.

Job training help

The state's Job Center of Wisconsin site links to online workshops, an education and training page, a local Job Center directory, an events calendar and a way to schedule a virtual meeting. It notes that some centers are open by appointment, so check hours first. Its training page explains that people using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training funds must pick a program from the state's eligible training list and get approval from a career planner first. For employers, major local job sectors and unemployment filing, see our guide to working in Madison.

More help

• Need a tutor for a specific subject or test? Browse tutors.
• Looking for a campus, college or training school? Browse schools and colleges.
• Need a library card, a quiet place or computers? Browse libraries.
• Looking for school-age options? See school districts near Madison.