| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public college in the Florida College System, governed by a District Board of Trustees appointed by the governor; campus-based, with some courses through MDC Online |
| Locations | 8 campuses and 2 outreach centers in Miami-Dade County, plus the School of Aviation at Miami Executive Airport |
| Credentials | Career technical certificates, college credit certificates, associate degrees (AS) and bachelor’s degrees (BAS, BS, BSN) |
| Students | 95,656 credit students in 2025-26 (college enrollment profile) |
| Accreditation | The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC); reaffirmed 12 June 2025 |
| Federal aid | Yes (OPE ID 00148400) |
| Cost | $118.22 per credit for Florida residents in associate and certificate courses (current published rate) |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Miami Dade College: a public college with campuses across Miami-Dade County
Miami Dade College (MDC) is a public college in the Florida College System, governed by a District Board of Trustees appointed by the governor of Florida. It is not run by Miami-Dade County. Founded in 1959, it awards career certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees, and its enrollment profile counts 95,656 credit students in 2025-26, plus nearly 24,000 dual-enrollment high school students in fall 2026.
For career training, the college’s weight is in health care: its Medical Campus runs a school of nursing and more than 20 allied-health programs, many of them programmatically accredited. Public-safety academies and funeral service are at North Campus, and culinary arts and cybersecurity at Wolfson. In February 2026 the Florida Board of Nursing put its RN and practical nursing programs on probation for 2026-2027.
Career programs at MDC, and where they run
The table lists the main career programs behind this page. The college’s program pages and its 2026-2028 catalog did not show credit totals for most programs when we checked, so lengths are given only where the college states them. Costs follow the per-credit rates in the tuition section.
| Program | Credential | Where | Prepares for | Accreditation or approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (RN) | AS: Generic full- and part-time, Transition, Accelerated | Medical, Homestead; full-time cohort at Baptist Hospital | NCLEX-RN | ACEN; Florida Board of Nursing probation 2026-2027 |
| Licensed Practical Nursing | Career technical certificate, one year | Medical | NCLEX-PN | Florida Board of Nursing probation 2026-2027 |
| Radiography | AS | Medical | ARRT | JRCERT |
| Respiratory Care | AS (standard and accelerated) | Medical | NBRC | CoARC |
| Dental Hygiene | AS; BS from fall 2026 | Medical | National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, clinical exam | CODA |
| Dental Assisting Technology and Management | Career technical certificate | Medical | – | CODA (as listed by College Navigator) |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography | AS | Medical | ARDMS | CAAHEP |
| Surgical Technology | AS | Medical | NBSTSA CST | ARC/STSA |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | AS | Medical | NPTE for PTAs | CAPTE |
| Medical Coder/Biller | College credit certificate; January and August starts | Medical | – | AHIMA approved |
| EMT | College credit certificate, 11 credits, one semester | Medical, Homestead, North | NREMT EMT | State of Florida approved |
| Paramedic | College credit certificate; EMS AS | Medical, Homestead | NREMT Paramedic | CAAHEP |
| Firefighter and fire science | Career technical certificates; Fire Science Technology AS | North | – | – |
| Law enforcement and corrections academies | Career technical certificates | North | – | – |
| Funeral Service Education | AS; Florida Funeral Director certificate | North (in-person labs) | National Board Exam | ABFSE (good standing since April 2026) |
| Culinary Arts Management | AS (two years); two certificates | Wolfson (Miami Culinary Institute) | – | – |
| Cybersecurity | AS, BS, certificates | Wolfson; bachelor’s also at Kendall from fall 2026 | – | NSA Center of Academic Excellence |
Other programmatic accreditations on the college’s list include ARC-PA for Physician Assistant, JRCNMT for Nuclear Medicine Technology, NAACLS for Clinical Laboratory Science and Histologic Technology, CAHIIM for Health Information Technology, the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation, AVMA for Veterinary Technology and CCNE for the RN to BSN. The Paralegal Studies AS is ABA-approved.
Some things the college does not offer: there is no FAA-approved A&P mechanic school (Miami’s public A&P school, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, belongs to Miami-Dade County Public Schools), and its program inventory lists no welding, diesel or truck-driving program and no credit nursing assistant program. HVAC, electrical and plumbing training exists only through the Construction Trades Institute.
What the main programs cover
Nursing (RN)
The Benjamín León School of Nursing teaches the RN degree as an Associate in Science in several formats. The Generic track, for students who are not yet nurses, runs full-time at Medical, Homestead and a Baptist Hospital cohort, and part-time at Medical and Homestead. LPNs can take the Transition track, and an Accelerated track is offered at Medical. Admission is competitive, with its own requirements page, and is separate from open admission to the college. Graduates sit the NCLEX-RN and can continue to the college’s CCNE-accredited RN to BSN.
Licensed Practical Nursing
Practical Nursing is a one-year planned career technical certificate at the Medical Campus, billed at the lower clock-hour rate. Applicants take the TABE and TEAS and must complete prerequisites before they are considered. The program prepares students for the NCLEX-PN, and LPNs can later return through the RN degree’s Transition track. Only about a third of students finished in 2023-24, according to the college, so ask the program about class size, clinical schedules and support before applying.
EMT and paramedic
The EMT certificate is 11 credits and takes one semester. It starts every semester, at three campuses with different schedules: Medical on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday evenings (5 to 9 p.m.), Homestead on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (6 to 10 p.m.) and North on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Graduates can take the NREMT exam and move on to the CAAHEP-accredited paramedic certificate at Medical or Homestead, or to the Emergency Medical Services AS.
Funeral Service Education
The AS is taught at North Campus with mandatory in-person labs; it is not offered by distance learning, and ABFSE has put the college’s application to teach it at a distance on hold. Students must attempt both sections, Arts and Sciences, of the National Board Exam to graduate. ABFSE has accredited the program since 1981, and in April 2026 it returned the program to good standing after earlier probation concerns. A Florida Funeral Director certificate is a shorter option, and the program’s next full ABFSE review is due in 2027.
Culinary Arts Management
Culinary training is taught only at the Wolfson Campus, in the Miami Culinary Institute building. The main credential is the Culinary Arts Management AS, a two-year degree. Two shorter college credit certificates, Chef Apprentice and Culinary Arts Management Operations, give students a quicker credential, and all three are billed at the associate-level rate rather than the lower career technical rate. The college does not claim American Culinary Federation accreditation for the program, so students who want an ACF-accredited credential should check that point first.
Aviation Maintenance Management
Despite its name, this AS does not train aircraft mechanics. It is designed for people who already hold an FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate: they receive 45 credits for it and complete 38 more. The college strongly encourages students to earn the A&P before enrolling, and those without it must take the A&P courses at another institution and transfer them back. The program belongs to the Eig-Watson School of Aviation, whose main site is at Miami Executive Airport, alongside its pilot and aviation administration degrees.
Tuition and how students pay
The college’s tuition pages list the rates below as the current published rates, without naming the academic year, and say they are subject to change. The trustees’ September 2026 agenda had no tuition item. Florida has no separate in-district rate: every Florida resident pays the resident rate.
| Per credit, tuition and fees | Florida resident | Non-resident | 12 credits, resident (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate degrees, college credit and advanced technical certificates | $118.22 | $402.51 | $1,418.64 |
| Bachelor’s degrees (BAS, BS, BSN) | $129.89 | $535.97 | $1,558.68 |
| Career technical certificates (clock-hour programs such as LPN and the academies) | $91.08 | $355.31 | $1,092.96 |
For a Florida resident, the associate-level rate breaks down into $82.78 tuition and $35.44 in fees for student services, financial aid, capital improvement, technology and parking (parking is waived for MDC Online, MDC Live and independent study). Lab, materials, online and cost-recovery fees are extra. For comparison, College Navigator lists 2024-25 tuition and fees of $2,878 a year for full-time Florida residents and $9,992 for non-residents.
Miami Dade College takes federal student aid (OPE ID 00148400). Program-specific help includes a Lennar Foundation grant that can pay EMT tuition, fees, exams, books and uniforms for eligible students, the Kick Start program for unemployed students, and a $75,000 Amazon grant in 2026 for aviation scholarships. Course and program requirements are in the college’s 2026-2028 catalog.
Open admission, with separate entry for health programs
The college admits applicants openly, but health programs are limited or competitive access with their own requirements: the RN degree has its own admission page, and Practical Nursing uses the TABE, the TEAS and prerequisites. Start dates vary: EMT starts every semester, Medical Coder/Biller in January and August. Since fall 2026 students can register for several terms at once. Advising offices on program pages list hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Accreditation and results
Miami Dade College is accredited by The Commission on Colleges and Universities, the name the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) took on 1 September 2026. Its accreditation was reaffirmed on 12 June 2025 after an on-site visit in October 2024, and the college says it was found in compliance with all standards reviewed.
In February 2026 the Florida Board of Nursing placed the RN (Nursing AS) and Licensed Practical Nursing programs on probation for 2026-2027. The college says the RN degree met its ACEN benchmark in 2024 and 2025, and its ACEN accreditation continues. For Practical Nursing, the college’s accreditation page lists ACEN candidacy granted on 6 December 2023 that expired on 6 December 2025; its current ACEN status was not confirmed, so ask the program before you apply. The college’s RN page does not publish yearly NCLEX-RN pass rates and refers readers to the Florida Board of Nursing.
| Measure | Result | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, NCLEX-PN pass rate | 80% | 2024, college outcomes page |
| Practical Nursing, completion | 34.86% | 2023-24, college outcomes page |
| Practical Nursing, job placement | 89% | 2024, college outcomes page |
| Funeral Service, National Board Exam first-time pass rate | Arts 63% (national 78%); Sciences 69% (national 71%) | 2025, ABFSE disclosure |
| Funeral Service, graduation rate | 68% | 2025, ABFSE disclosure |
| Funeral Service, employment | 94% employed in funeral service (100% employed overall) | 2025, ABFSE disclosure |
Before you enroll
- The RN and practical nursing programs are on Florida Board of Nursing probation for 2026-2027. Ask the school of nursing what the probation means for your cohort before you apply.
- The Aviation Maintenance Management AS is not mechanic training. You need an FAA A&P certificate first, and MDC does not teach the A&P courses.
- Funeral service graduates’ 2025 first-time National Board pass rates were below the national rate in Arts (63% against 78%) and slightly below in Sciences (69% against 71%).
- Most health programs are taught only at the Medical Campus, and public-safety academies only at North. Living near Hialeah, Kendall, Padrón or West does not mean your program is taught there.
- Construction Trades Institute courses in carpentry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC may not earn college credit; ask before you enroll if you want the training to count toward a degree.
Eight campuses, two centers and an aviation site
| Site | Address | Main career programs here |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Campus | 950 NW 20th St., Miami, FL 33127 | Nursing (RN, LPN), nearly all allied health, medical coding, EMT, paramedic |
| North Campus | 11380 NW 27th Ave., Miami, FL 33167-3495 | Funeral service; law enforcement, corrections and fire academies; EMT; Construction Trades Institute |
| Wolfson Campus (main) | 300 NE Second Ave., Miami, FL 33132 | Miami Culinary Institute; Cybersecurity Center of the Americas |
| Homestead Campus | 500 College Terrace, Homestead, FL 33030 | RN (Generic tracks), EMT, paramedic, aviation advising, construction training |
| Kendall Campus | 11011 SW 104 Street, Miami, FL 33176-3393 | Cybersecurity bachelor’s coursework (from fall 2026) |
| Hialeah Campus | 1780 W 49th Street, Hialeah, FL 33012 | Not confirmed |
| West Campus | 3800 NW 115th Ave., Doral, FL 33178 | Not confirmed |
| Padrón Campus | 627 SW 27th Ave., Miami, FL 33135 | Not confirmed |
| Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center (North) | 6300 NW Seventh Ave., Miami, FL 33150 | Entrepreneurship courses |
| Gibson Education Center (Wolfson) | 3629 Grand Ave., Miami, FL 33133 | Not confirmed |
| School of Aviation | 14715 SW 128th Street, Miami, FL 33186 (Miami Executive Airport) | Pilot, aviation administration and aviation maintenance management |
MDC Online and MDC Live are delivery modes, not campuses, and the Baptist Hospital nursing cohort is a hospital partner site. The aviation school also has a classroom at Miami International Airport with limited classes.
What students say
On Niche, Miami Dade College is rated 3.91 out of 5 from 6,844 reviews, with an overall grade of B+ (checked 11 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise supportive, knowledgeable professors, flexible schedules and affordable tuition, and friendly staff on a diverse campus. The most common complaints are slow or unclear answers from financial aid, registration and student accounts, some unresponsive online professors and advisors, and campus safety, including theft and people harassing students outside buildings. The reviews cover the whole college rather than particular programs, and recent ones are spread over the past weeks and months with no sign of a burst.
Sources
Checked October 2026: MDC campuses and centers · Tuition and fees · Program accreditations · Nursing RN accreditation notice · Practical Nursing accreditation and outcomes · ABFSE Florida directory · College Navigator · Niche reviews
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Nursing AS (RN): Generic, Transition and Accelerated tracks
- Licensed Practical Nursing
- Professional Nursing (LPN to RN)
- RN to BSN
Health Sciences
- Radiography
- Respiratory Care
- Dental Hygiene (AS; BS from fall 2026)
- Dental Assisting Technology and Management
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Surgical Technology
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Nuclear Medicine Technology
- Radiation Therapy
- Computed Tomography and MRI (certificates)
- Clinical Laboratory Science
- Histologic Technology
- Opticianry
- Veterinary Technology
- Health Information Technology
- Medical Coder/Biller
- Medical Assisting
- Pharmacy Technician
- Phlebotomy
- Central Sterile Processing
- Massage Therapy
Emergency Services and Public Safety
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Paramedic
- Emergency Medical Services AS
- Firefighter/EMT
- Fire Fighter Minimum Standards
- Fire Science Technology
- Florida Law Enforcement Academy
- Correctional Officer academy
- Criminal Justice Technology
- Crime Scene Technology
Funeral Service
- Funeral Service Education AS
- Florida Funeral Director certificate
Building and Design
- Building Construction Technology
- Construction Trades Institute (construction, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC)
- Architectural Design & Construction Technology
- Computer Aided Design Operator and Assistant
Aviation
- Professional Pilot Technology
- Aviation Administration
- Aviation Maintenance Management (for FAA A&P holders)
Culinary
- Culinary Arts Management AS
- Chef Apprentice
- Culinary Arts Management Operations
Computers and IT
- Cybersecurity (AS, BS, certificates)
- Networking Services Technology
- Computer Information Technology
- Computer Programming and Analysis
- Database Technology
Business
- Accounting Technology
- Tax Specialist
- Paralegal Studies
Education
- Early Childhood Education (AS, BS, certificates)
Arts and Design
- Graphic Design Technology
- Graphic Internet Technology
Campus Locations
Miami, FL Medical Campus: 950 NW 20th St., Miami, FL 33127
Miami, FL North Campus: 11380 NW 27th Ave., Miami, FL 33167-3495
Miami, FL Wolfson Campus: 300 NE Second Ave., Miami, FL 33132
Miami (Homestead), FL Homestead Campus: 500 College Terrace, Homestead, FL 33030
Miami, FL Kendall Campus: 11011 SW 104 Street, Miami, FL 33176-3393
Miami (Hialeah), FL Hialeah Campus: 1780 W 49th Street, Hialeah, FL 33012
Miami (Doral), FL West Campus: 3800 NW 115th Ave., Doral, FL 33178
Miami, FL Padrón Campus: 627 SW 27th Ave., Miami, FL 33135
Miami, FL Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center: 6300 NW Seventh Ave., Miami, FL 33150
Miami, FL Gibson Education Center: 3629 Grand Ave., Miami, FL 33133
Miami, FL School of Aviation, Miami Executive Airport: 14715 SW 128th Street, Miami, FL 33186