Caterpillar ThinkBIG (Cat dealer technician associate degree with paid internships)
Caterpillar and Cat dealers with partner colleges
Verify details: some eligibility, cost or format details were not fully confirmed on the official page. Confirm with the program before you apply.
- Who it's for
- High school diploma or equivalent; apply to the college and a sponsoring Cat dealer (requirements vary)
Open to: veterans, active duty / transitioning service members. - Cost
- Not always free
- Free with no benefit?
- No
- What you get
- Associate of applied science degree in heavy equipment or electric power generation, alternating 8 weeks at college with 8 weeks in a paid Cat dealer internship (about 2,000 hours on the job); goal is a Cat dealer service-technician job at graduation
- Type
- Degree program
- Credential strength
- 4/5: Accredited degree program; strong formal recognition, multi-year commitment.
- Duration
- About 2 years
- Format
- In person
- Location
- 12 North American locations (21 worldwide)
- Deadline
- Rolling / varies
- Next start
- Varies
- Stipend / housing / travel
- Paid dealer internship
- Jobs it can lead to
- Heavy Equipment Technician; Power Generation Technician
- Notes
- Caterpillar's military page (cat.com/.../dealer-technician/military.html) blocked automated access on Oct 4, 2026, so veteran-specific details were not confirmed.
- Official page
- cat.com/en_US/support/maintenance/dealer-technician/thinkbig.html
- Last checked
- Oct 4, 2026