| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year college, one of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges; campus, online and hybrid classes |
| Campuses | Two, both in Mesa, Arizona: Southern and Dobson (main) and Red Mountain; MCC Online is a delivery mode, not a campus |
| Students | More than 17,000 credit students in fall 2024 (MCC) |
| Credentials | Certificates of Completion, academic certificates, AAS and transfer associate degrees, and two bachelor’s degrees; MCC counts 240+ degrees and certificates |
| Tuition 2026-27 | $97 per credit for Maricopa County residents; $372 out-of-state on campus, $253 out-of-state online; $15 registration per semester |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (Open Pathway); accreditation continued after the 2025 evaluation, next reaffirmation 2034-35 |
| Federal aid | Yes |
| Founded | 1963; a separate college since 1965 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
A Maricopa district college in Mesa since 1963
Mesa Community College (MCC) is a public community college and one of the 10 colleges of the Maricopa County Community College District, whose Governing Board sets one tuition schedule for all of them. It began on 11 September 1963, when 330 students registered at a Phoenix College extension on West Main Street, became a separate college in 1965 and moved to its Southern and Dobson campus in 1966; the Red Mountain campus followed in 2001. MCC reports more than 17,000 credit students in fall 2024 and more than 5,000 degrees and certificates awarded in 2023-24. Its best-documented career results are in health: its nursing graduates had the highest first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of the district’s eight nursing colleges in 2025. On 1 July 2026 several MCC departments were reorganized and renamed.
Career programs at MCC’s two Mesa campuses
MCC awards Certificates of Completion (CCL), which are its short career certificates, Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees, transfer degrees and two bachelor’s degrees: a BAS in Data Analytics and Programming and a BA in Early Childhood Education – Dual Language. Some, such as the welding certificates, form a stepped path to an AAS in the same field. MCC’s program pages do not give credit totals or say which campus teaches each credential, so the table shows a campus only where a department page names one, and a dash where the college does not say.
| Program | Credential | Length | Schedule | Where | Exam or accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (RN) | AAS | 4 semesters on time | Morning or afternoon/evening cohorts | Southern and Dobson | NCLEX-RN; ACEN through 2033 |
| Fast Track Practical Nursing | Certificate of Completion | Two semesters or less | – | Red Mountain | NCLEX-PN |
| Dental Hygiene | AAS | – | – | Red Mountain | CODA through January 2029 |
| Veterinary Technology | AAS; Veterinary Assisting certificate | – | – | Southern and Dobson | VTNE; AVMA CVTEA through 2028 |
| Paramedicine | Certificate and AAS | – | – | Ask (EMS listed at both campuses) | NREMT; CAAHEP through 2029 |
| Emergency Medical Technology | Two certificates | – | – | Ask | – |
| Welding | Seven certificates stacking to an AAS | – | – | Southern and Dobson | AWS exams in advanced classes |
| Construction Trades | Two AAS degrees; trade certificates | – | – | Southern and Dobson | OSHA 30 certificate |
| H.V.A.C.r Residential Service | One certificate | – | – | Southern and Dobson | – |
| Automotive Service | AAS, a certificate and about 13 ASE-area certificates | – | – | Southern and Dobson | ASE Master accreditation through May 2030 |
| Manufacturing (AzAMI) | AAS; CNC certificates | – | – | Southern and Dobson | – |
| Networking and Security | Two AAS degrees; vendor-named certificates | – | – | Southern and Dobson | AWS, Cisco, Microsoft, Red Hat |
| Early Childhood Education | AAS; certificates; BA | – | – | – | NAEYC through July 2029 |
| Real Estate: Prelicense | Certificate of Completion | – | – | – | Arizona licence exam |
Programs with their own accreditation are Nursing (ACEN), Dental Hygiene (CODA), Veterinary Technology (AVMA CVTEA), Paramedicine (CAAHEP), Automotive Service (ASE Education Foundation) and the Early Childhood Education AAS (NAEYC), according to MCC’s program accreditation page (October 2026). The Veterinary Assisting certificate had a NAVTA approval through 30 September 2026, which is not an accreditation. Some program names say more than the credentials do: “Accounting, Banking, and Finance” awards accounting credentials only, “Programming and Mobile Applications” has no mobile-app certificate, and “Healthcare Technology Systems” is a Biomedical Equipment Technology certificate for medical equipment repair, not health information technology.
What the main programs cover
Nursing AAS (RN)
Mesa teaches the Maricopa district’s shared nursing curriculum, so the AAS is the same degree offered at seven other Maricopa colleges, and the district measures on-time completion as four semesters. Students choose a morning cohort or an afternoon/evening cohort. Clinical learning takes place in the skills lab, in simulation and in inpatient and outpatient settings. Applications go through the nursing advising office rather than general admission. Related options include a Paramedic to RN route, a Nursing Refresher for returning nurses, and Nurse Assisting and Patient Care Technician Skills courses.
Veterinary Technology
The Veterinary Technology department, part of Applied Sciences and Technology, keeps its office in TC 50 at Southern and Dobson. Students follow the AVMA-accredited AAS, which prepares them for the national VTNE, or take the shorter Veterinary Assisting certificate, whose NAVTA approval MCC lists only through 30 September 2026; ask whether it has been renewed. Students who already hold NAVTA credentials can apply for prior learning credit. The college reports that its 2025 graduates had a 98% job placement rate, but gives no definition, so ask how it is measured.
Welding
MCC describes the certificates as a stepped path to the degree: Welding: Fundamentals plus process certificates in gas metal and flux-cored arc welding (GMAW/FCAW), gas tungsten arc welding on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and shielded metal arc welding on plate and on pipe. The advanced classes include American Welding Society certification exams. A grade of C or better is needed in each course. MCC’s pages do not publish credit totals, so check the pathway map.
Construction Trades
Construction Trades teaches carpentry, electrical and plumbing in commercial and residential versions, plus masonry and solar energy. Code and safety certificates cover building inspection, construction building codes, the International Residential Code and OSHA 30. The department also offers Construction Technology and Construction Management AAS degrees. Prior learning credit is given for NCCER, OSHA and PMI certifications. The Tribal HomeOwnership Coalition of the Southwest funds a Construction Trades scholarship. In October 2025 MCC’s news page highlighted press coverage of its new construction-trades and data-center programs.
Automotive Service
The automotive program is organized around ASE areas: about 13 certificates each cover one system, such as brakes, engine repair or steering and suspension, alongside the Automotive Service AAS and a general certificate. Two more automotive certificates, Automotive HVAC Systems and Electrical, HVAC Systems, cover vehicle climate systems. The ASE Education Foundation accredits it as a Master Automobile Service Technology program through 1 May 2030. MCC also lists a separate Caterpillar Technician Training AAS alongside the automotive credentials.
Networking and cybersecurity
Most of the Networking and Security program’s certificates carry a vendor’s name. The Cisco certificates are Cisco Network Administration and Security, Cisco Network Administration: CCNA, CCNP Enterprise, and CCNP Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services. The cloud certificates are AWS Cloud Practitioner and AWS Cloud Associate. Others cover Microsoft Desktop Associate, Red Hat Linux Administrator, Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Cyber Engineering and Cyber Operations. The program’s two degrees are the Network and Systems Administration AAS and the Cybersecurity AAS.
Tuition and fees for 2026-27
The Maricopa district Governing Board sets tuition for all 10 of its colleges. The rates below are per credit hour and took effect on 1 July 2026. Bachelor’s-level courses cost more than the lower-division courses that make up certificates and associate degrees.
| Residency (2026-27) | Per credit, lower division | Per credit, bachelor’s courses |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County resident (also residents of other Arizona counties except Apache and Greenlee) | $97.00 | $145.50 |
| Apache or Greenlee county resident without an Out-of-County Residence Affidavit | $546.00 | $594.50 |
| Out-of-state student, on campus | $372.00 | $420.50 |
| Out-of-state student, online | $253.00 | $379.50 |
| Out-of-state student under WUE | $145.50 | $218.25 |
Fees include $15 registration per semester, $25 per credit to audit a course, $25 per semester for a payment plan and $5 for an official transcript; course fees vary. By our arithmetic, a full-time year of 30 lower-division credits plus two registration fees comes to $2,940 for a Maricopa County resident, $11,190 for an out-of-state student on campus and $7,620 for an out-of-state student online. Niche shows a federal net price of $12,951 a year (checked October 2026), which includes living costs as well as tuition.
Federal aid, scholarships and military rates
MCC takes part in federal student aid, and MCC says more than $5 million in scholarships went to students in 2024. Not every short certificate qualifies for federal aid: Rio Salado’s page for the district’s standard Law Enforcement certificate says it is not aid-eligible, so check a certificate’s status before relying on aid. Out-of-state military students and veterans studying online pay $225 per credit, or a flat $2,700 per semester for 12 or more credits. Prior learning credit is available for some outside training, including Mesa Police Department Basic Academy training and NAVTA, PMI, NCCER, OSHA and real estate credentials.
Admissions and schedules
Admission to the college is open, but Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Paramedicine and Veterinary Technology are selective programs with their own applications; nursing applications are handled by the nursing advising office. Nursing runs morning and afternoon/evening cohorts, and Fast Track Practical Nursing takes two semesters or less. Classes are offered in person, online through MCC Online and in hybrid formats, but MCC’s program pages do not say which career credentials can be completed fully online.
Accreditation and published results
MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission on its Open Pathway. According to MCC, HLC continued its accreditation after a comprehensive evaluation in 2025; a March 2025 Assurance Review found that MCC “meets all HLC Criteria for Accreditation”; the next Assurance Review is due in 2028-29 and the next reaffirmation in 2034-35. MCC’s page mentions no sanction or monitoring.
| Program | Result | Cohort and source |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing AAS, NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate | 98.8% (165 of 167); Arizona 89.92% | First-time takers, 2025 (Maricopa Community Colleges nursing page) |
| Nursing AAS, graduates employed as RNs | 97% of 173 graduates | 2025 academic year; method not defined (same page) |
| Nursing AAS, on-time completion (4 semesters) | 63.8% | 2025; 62.21% in 2024, 73.2% in 2023; not further defined (same page) |
| Veterinary Technology, VTNE pass rate | 71% of 34 first-time candidates | 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025 (MCC veterinary technology page) |
| Fast Track Practical Nursing, NCLEX-PN | None found | – |
| Dental Hygiene, board exams | None found | – |
The nursing figures come from the Maricopa Community Colleges’ nursing outcomes page and the VTNE figure from MCC’s veterinary technology page, both checked in October 2026. The paramedic program’s published pass and placement figures are from 2021 and 2022, so they are left out here.
Before you enroll
- MCC’s Law Enforcement certificate is coursework, not a police academy, and MCC’s page claims no AZPOST certification. The Maricopa district’s Law Enforcement Training Academy certificate is taught at Chandler-Gilbert, Glendale and Rio Salado, not at Mesa.
- Open admission does not guarantee a seat in Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Paramedicine or Veterinary Technology, which each have their own application.
- Red Mountain’s offerings focus on transfer programs; most career programs are based at Southern and Dobson, but Fast Track Practical Nursing and Dental Hygiene are at Red Mountain. Ask where paramedic and EMT classes meet, since EMS contacts are listed at both campuses.
- We found no published pass rates for Fast Track Practical Nursing or Dental Hygiene, and the latest paramedic results we found are from 2022.
- The HVAC option is one residential certificate with no associate degree, and its page does not mention EPA Section 608 certification.
What students say on Niche
On Niche, Mesa Community College has 3.92 out of 5 from 2,071 reviews and an overall grade of B (checked 8 October 2026). Reviewers praise staff and professors who are supportive and available, and flexible schedules and advisors. Complaints center on little campus or student life and slow transcript evaluation, with one reviewer waiting more than three months. We did not see when the reviews were written, so we could not check for bursts or reviews invited by the college, and we did not check Trustpilot or GradReports.
Sources
Checked October 2026: MCC locations · MCC accreditation · Program accreditation details · Maricopa tuition and fees, 2026-27 · Maricopa Nursing outcomes · MCC Veterinary Technology · MCC programs by name · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Nursing AAS (RN, MaricopaNursing)
- Paramedic to RN
- Fast Track Practical Nursing (Red Mountain)
- Nursing Refresher
- Nurse Assisting
- Patient Care Technician Skills
Health Sciences
- Dental Hygiene (Red Mountain)
- Paramedicine (certificate and AAS)
- Emergency Medical Technology and EMT Comprehensive
- Veterinary Technology
- Veterinary Assisting
- Applied Behavioral Health (Red Mountain)
- Exercise Science and Personal Training
Public Safety and Law
- Fire Science and Firefighter Operations
- Administration of Justice Studies
- Law Enforcement certificate (coursework, not a police academy)
- Corrections, Legal Studies and Victimology
- Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Science
Skilled Trades
- Welding (AAS and seven certificates)
- H.V.A.C.r Residential Service
- Construction Technology and Construction Management
- Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing and Masonry
- Solar Energy
- Building Inspection and Building Codes
- Manufacturing Production Technology and CNC Machining (AzAMI)
- Automated Industrial Technology (robotics)
- Electronics Technology
- Biomedical Equipment Technology (Healthcare Technology Systems)
- Drafting and Design Technology
- Landscape Technology
Automotive
- Automotive Service (ASE Master Automobile Service Technology)
- Caterpillar Technician Training
Business
- Accounting
- General Business
- Organizational Management, Human Resources Management and Organizational Leadership
- Marketing and Sales; Social Media Marketing
- Entrepreneurial Studies
- Project Management
- Real Estate: Prelicense
Technology
- Network and Systems Administration
- Cybersecurity
- Information Technology and Data Center Operations
- Programming and Systems Analysis; Python Applications
- Web Design/Development
- Video Game Production
- Data Analytics (AAS and BAS in Data Analytics and Programming)
Arts and Media
- Graphic Design
- Animation and Time-Based Media
- Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising
- Journalism and New Media Studies
- Music Industries: Music Business; Audio Production Technologies
- Technical Theatre
Education
- Early Childhood Education (AAS, certificates and BA in ECE – Dual Language)
- Instructional Assistance
Other
- Beauty and Wellness
Campus Locations
Mesa, AZ 1833 West Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85202
Mesa, AZ 7110 East McKellips Road, Mesa, AZ 85207