| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year community college in the Mississippi community college system; campus, hybrid and online classes |
| Locations | Seven campuses and centers that teach career programs, all in Mississippi’s George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties |
| Students | 8,694 undergraduates in fall 2024 (IPEDS), the most of any Mississippi community college |
| Credentials | Certificates (about 30 credits), diplomas (about 45), AAS degrees (about 60), and AA and AS transfer degrees |
| Tuition | $1,800 per full-time semester; $180 per credit hour part-time; out-of-state students add $500 a semester (as of the college’s May 2026 tuition page) |
| Accreditation | Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC) since 1929; reaffirmed 2020, next 2030 |
| Federal aid | Yes (OPE ID 00241700) |
| Housing | Residence halls at Perkinston only |
| Roots | 1911, at Perkinston |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
A four-county public college with roots in 1911
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC, or “Gulf Coast”) is the public community college for George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties, part of the system overseen by the Mississippi Community College Board. It traces its roots to 1911 at Perkinston, still its main campus. Fall 2024 enrollment rose 6.1% to 8,694 undergraduates, the most of any community college in the state. Career programs are built as stackable credentials, from a two-semester certificate to an associate degree, and are spread across seven campuses and centers between Lucedale and the coast, so the campus matters as much as the program. Nursing is taught in Biloxi, imaging and lab science in Gautier, and culinary, automotive, HVAC and electrical in Gulfport.
Career programs across seven Gulf Coast campuses
Most career programs are stackable: a certificate of about 30 credits over two semesters, a diploma after a third semester, and an Associate of Applied Science after a fourth semester of general education, about 60 credits in all. Health programs have their own selective applications. The table lists the main programs; a dash means the college does not say.
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing | AAS | Prerequisite semester + 4 semesters; fall or spring entry | Tradition Center, Biloxi | NCLEX-RN | ACEN |
| LPN to RN | AAS, 66 semester hours | Summer entry, joins ADN semester 3 | Tradition Center, Biloxi | NCLEX-RN | ACEN |
| Practical Nursing | PN exit from the ADN/PN curriculum | About 4 semesters | Not stated on the program page | NCLEX-PN | ACEN; Mississippi Board of Nursing |
| Radiologic Technology | AAS | 2 years; fall entry | Jackson County, Gautier | ARRT | JRCERT |
| Medical Laboratory Technology | AAS | 22 months | Jackson County, Gautier | ASCP BOC | NAACLS |
| Respiratory Care Technology | Two-year program | 2 years | Jackson County, Gautier | NBRC | CoARC |
| Surgical Technology | AAS | Technical year starts each summer | Harrison County, Gulfport | CST | CAAHEP |
| Paramedic | AAS, 61 credits, or diploma, 49 | Fall entry | Harrison County, Gulfport | National Registry | CAAHEP |
| EMT | One 7-credit course (EMS 1117) | One term; fall, spring or summer | Harrison County, Jackson County, Perkinston | National Registry | – |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | AAS | 2 years; spring entry | Perkinston | NBCOT (COTA) | ACOTE |
| Medical Assisting Technology | Diploma, 47 credits; AAS, 60 | 1,245 clock hours | Harrison County, Perkinston | CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT) | CAAHEP (program page) |
| Massage Therapy Technology | Certificate, 39 credits; diploma; AAS | 1 year for the certificate (735 clock hours) | Perkinston | MBLEx and Mississippi law exam | State Board of Massage Therapy licence #1711 |
| Health Information Technology: Billing and Coding | Career and technical certificates; AAS | – | Harrison County (hybrid) | AHIMA CCA or CCS | Not CAHIIM-accredited |
| Welding Technology | Certificate, 30 credits; diploma; AAS | 2 semesters for the certificate | Five sites (see campuses) | – | – |
| Electrical Technology | Certificate, 30 credits; diploma; AAS | Day, evening or accelerated | Harrison County, George County | – | – |
| HVAC and Refrigeration | Certificate, 37 credits; diploma; AAS | – | Harrison County | – | – |
| Automotive Technology; Auto Collision Repair | Certificates of 30 and 36 credits; diplomas; AAS | – | Harrison County | ASE student certification (automotive) | – |
| Precision Manufacturing and Machining | Certificate, 34 credits; diploma; AAS | – | Jackson County | – | – |
| Commercial Truck Driving | 16 credits, 390 clock hours | One semester | Perkinston, George County, West Harrison | Mississippi CDL | – |
| Cosmetology | Diploma, 46 credits; AAS | 1,550 clock hours | George County, West Harrison | State Board of Cosmetology exam | State Board approval |
| Culinary Arts; Baking and Pastry Arts | Certificates of 31 and 30 credits; diplomas; AAS | 1,290 clock hours to the diploma | Harrison County | ACF Certified Culinarian (culinary) | ACFEF |
| Cybersecurity; Computer Networking; IT Specialist | Certificates of 30 credits; diplomas; AAS | – | Harrison County (cyber, networking); Perkinston (IT) | Cisco CCT, CIW, CompTIA A+ (by program) | – |
Two new programs are not yet open to applicants: Dental Assisting Technology and Dental Hygiene Technology, tied to the Tradition Center in Biloxi, are awaiting initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation, with site visits in August and September 2026, and the college expects accreditation to cover students entering in fall 2027. A Physical Therapy Assisting program is planned for Perkinston once it is approved. Short non-credit workforce courses include CNA, phlebotomy, EKG, pharmacy technician ($800) and a 48-hour hybrid Dental Assistant with Dental Radiology course ($515). The college says several programs can be completed fully online but does not name them, so ask before counting on an online route.
What the main programs cover
Nursing at the Tradition Center
The ADN and LPN to RN routes are based at the Tradition Center in Biloxi. New students take one semester of prerequisites and then four nursing semesters, entering in fall or spring. LPNs begin in summer with NUR 1116, receive 14 hours of credit and join the third semester, in either a hybrid or a non-hybrid version. Paramedics and respiratory therapists have their own hybrid bridges. Practical nursing shares the first two nursing semesters with the ADN class and adds a final PN semester, and medical assistants can enter through an MA-to-LPN route.
Imaging and lab science in Gautier
The Jackson County campus’s Health Professions Building holds three programs that each take about two years. Radiologic Technology admits one class each fall and prepares students for the ARRT exam; its 2024 cohort of 20 all completed. Medical Laboratory Technology lasts 22 months, and hospital laboratories act as extended campuses for the clinical part; a 30-hour Medical Lab Support Assistant certificate is an earlier exit. Respiratory Care prepares students for the NBRC exams, and its graduates can later bridge into nursing.
Surgical technology and emergency medicine in Gulfport
At the Harrison County campus, Surgical Technology’s technical year starts each summer and ends with the CST exam. Emergency medical training is built in steps: the seven-credit EMT course (EMS 1117), offered every term; a 21-credit Advanced EMT certificate; and paramedic study starting each fall, either as a 49-credit diploma or a 61-credit AAS with 1,260 clock hours. AEMTs can join through a 17-credit bridge. The EMT course is also taught at Gautier and Perkinston.
Commercial Truck Driving
The truck driving program takes one semester: 16 credits and 390 clock hours. Completers receive a record of entry-level driver training and then test for a Mississippi CDL; the program page does not say which licence class, so ask whether the training is for Class A. The credits do not count toward an associate degree. Classes run at Perkinston and the George County Center, and the college celebrated its 300th CDL graduate at the West Harrison County Center in November 2024.
Welding and the trade programs
Gulf Coast’s trade programs share one ladder: a certificate after about two semesters and 30 credits, a diploma after a third, and an AAS once 15 to 17 credits of general education are added. Career students also take a state technical skills test where one applies. Welding is taught at five sites and follows the American Welding Society’s entry-level EG2.10 and QC10 guidelines. Automotive covers eight ASE areas, HVAC offers an add-on IoT and Smart Technology certificate, and Electrical runs day, evening and accelerated classes.
Cosmetology in Lucedale and Long Beach
Cosmetology is taught at the George County and West Harrison County centers, both approved by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology. The diploma requires 1,550 clock hours, 50 more than the state minimum, and ends with the State Board licensing exam. Students who add general education can finish an AAS. Licensed cosmetologists can return for Cosmetology Teacher Training, and West Harrison also teaches Nail Technology.
Tuition and fees
MGCCC charges a flat rate for full-time study and does not charge more for Mississippi residents from outside its four-county district; only out-of-state students pay extra. The college’s tuition page was last updated in May 2026 and does not name the academic year, so confirm the current year’s rates before budgeting.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, 15–21 credit hours (fall or spring) | $1,800 per semester |
| Tuition, 1–14 credit hours | $180 per credit hour |
| Summer tuition | $1,800 for 12–15 hours; $180 per credit hour below that |
| Out-of-state fee, on top of tuition | $500 per semester full-time; $50 per credit hour part-time |
| Registration fee | $150 |
| Technology fee | $200 |
| Resource fee | $20 per credit hour |
| Technical course fees (career programs) | $10–$85 per credit hour, by program |
| Housing and meals, Perkinston only | $2,615–$3,065 per semester, by hall and meal plan |
Commercial Truck Driving can be free for eligible students through a RESTORE Act grant. College Navigator lists 2024-25 tuition and fees of $4,250 a year in state and $7,850 out of state, and Niche shows an average net price of $6,087 a year.
Financial aid and military students
Gulf Coast takes part in federal student aid (OPE ID 00241700). Its Fast Facts 2026 says nearly 61% of students receive scholarships or aid and that $45,761,488 was disbursed in the previous year. About 6% of students are veterans, service members, reservists or their dependents. The college also teaches academic transfer courses at centers on Keesler Air Force Base and the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport; these are on military installations and are not listed as campuses here.
Open admission, selective health programs
Admission to the college is open, but nursing and the allied health programs take separate applications, which are selective and have their own requirements. Entry terms differ: the ADN starts in fall or spring, LPN to RN and Surgical Technology in summer, Radiologic Technology and Paramedic in fall, and the Occupational Therapy Assistant program in spring. Electrical Technology has an evening schedule at the Harrison County campus. High school students can earn college credit through dual enrollment and the Collegiate Academy; 3,355 took part in fiscal 2026.
Accreditation and results
MGCCC has been accredited since 1929 by the Commission on Colleges and Universities, the name SACSCOC took on 1 September 2026, to award associate degrees. It was last reaffirmed in 2020, its next review is in 2030, and the commission lists no public sanctions. Program accreditors include ACEN (nursing), JRCERT (radiography), NAACLS (laboratory), CoARC (respiratory), ACOTE (occupational therapy assistant), CAAHEP (surgical technology and paramedic) and the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (culinary and baking). Health Information Technology is not CAHIIM-accredited.
| Program or measure | Result | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing, NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate | 96.9% (226 of 233) | Calendar 2024, ADN program page |
| Associate Degree Nursing, licensure pass rate | 86% | Academic year 2025, college Fast Facts 2026 |
| Practical Nursing, NCLEX-PN first-time pass rate | 100% (45 of 45) | Calendar 2024, PN program page |
| Practical Nursing, licensure pass rate | 97% | Academic year 2025, college Fast Facts 2026 |
| Radiologic Technology, ARRT first-attempt pass rate | 80.8% (84 of 104) | Five-year average 2020–2024, 2025 program effectiveness report |
| Radiologic Technology, job placement within 12 months | 100% (99 of 99) | Five-year average, same report |
| Surgical Technology, CST pass rate | 81% (13 of 16) | December 2022 and July 2023 cohorts, 2024 annual report (AR24) |
| Surgical Technology, placement / graduation | 100% (15 of 15) / 64% (16 of 25) | Same cohorts |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant, graduation | 87% (27 of 31) | 2023–2025, program page |
| College-wide graduation within 150% of normal time | 48%; 11% transferred out | Full-time first-time students starting fall 2021 (IPEDS) |
| Retention to second year | 62% full-time; 23% part-time | Fall 2023 entrants (IPEDS) |
The college publishes two sets of nursing figures for different periods: the program pages give calendar 2024 results, and Fast Facts 2026 gives academic year 2025. We could not check either against Mississippi Board of Nursing reports. Fast Facts 2026 also reports academic year 2025 pass rates of 89% for occupational therapy assistant, 90% for surgical technology and radiography, and 100% for laboratory, respiratory, massage and the EMS/Advanced EMT written exam, without saying whether they count first attempts. The IPEDS figures come from College Navigator, checked in October 2026.
What changed from 2023 to 2026
- June 2023: MGCCC and the University of Southern Mississippi signed an agreement on transfer and shared sites.
- Fall 2024: enrollment rose 6.1% to 8,694, the largest of any Mississippi community college.
- December 2025: an evening Electrical Technology program started at the Harrison County campus.
- April 2026: MGCCC announced freshman and sophomore transfer courses at USM’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach.
- August–September 2026: CODA site visits for the new dental programs; the college expects its first accredited intake in fall 2027.
- 1 September 2026: the accreditor SACSCOC became the Commission on Colleges and Universities; MGCCC’s status did not change.
Before you enroll
- Programs are tied to specific campuses spread across four counties, and residence halls exist only at Perkinston. Check where your program meets before you apply.
- Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene are not enrolling yet. The college expects its first accredited class in fall 2027, and graduates cannot sit the national dental exams until CODA grants accreditation.
- Health Information Technology is not CAHIIM-accredited, so it prepares for coding exams but not for the RHIT credential.
- Commercial Truck Driving credits do not count toward an associate degree, and the welding program page does not promise AWS certification.
- Open admission to the college does not mean a place in a selective health program, and not everyone who starts finishes on time: on-time completion in the ADN was 60.6% for the 2023-24 cohort, and 64% of surgical technology starters graduated in the program’s 2024 annual report (AR24).
Housing, transfer and employers
Perkinston has five men’s and three women’s residence halls; the meal plan is required. Students who want a bachelor’s degree can move on to the University of Southern Mississippi, whose Gulf Park campus now also hosts MGCCC transfer courses, and the college says its transfers average a 3.29 GPA at university. Employers the college names as partners include Ingalls Shipbuilding, Chevron, Southern Company, Singing River Health System and Keesler Air Force Base.
What students say on Niche
On Niche, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has 4.08 out of 5 from 812 reviews (checked 8 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise small classes and approachable instructors, free tutoring and learning labs, and flexible schedules with online and evening options. Complaints center on administration and financial aid processes, inconsistent cafeteria food and dorm maintenance, such as heating and bathrooms. We did not check whether the reviews were invited or posted in bursts, and we did not check Trustpilot or GradReports.
Sources
Checked October 2026: Campuses · Tuition and fees · Commission on Colleges and Universities record · MGCCC accreditation · ADN program · College Navigator · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Associate Degree Nursing (ADN, RN)
- LPN to RN (hybrid and non-hybrid)
- Paramedic to RN and Respiratory Therapist to RN bridges
- Practical Nursing (LPN)
Health Professions
- Medical Laboratory Technology
- Radiologic Technology (Radiography)
- Respiratory Care Technology
- Surgical Technology
- Emergency Medical Sciences: EMT
- Emergency Medical Sciences: Advanced EMT and Paramedic
- Medical Assisting Technology
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Massage Therapy Technology
- Health Information Technology: Billing and Coding (hybrid)
Business
- Accounting Technology
- Business Management Technology
- Administrative Office Technology (option in Business Management)
- Business and Marketing Management Technology
- Business Management: Gaming Concentration
Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice Technology
Culinary and Hospitality
- Culinary Arts Technology
- Baking and Pastry Arts Technology
- Hotel/Restaurant Management
Technology and Design
- Cybersecurity Technology
- Computer Networking Technology
- IT Specialist Technology
- Graphic Design Technology
Skilled Trades and Manufacturing
- Welding Technology
- Electrical Technology (day, evening and accelerated)
- Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Auto Collision Repair Technology
- Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology
- Process Operations, Instrumentation and Controls, Automation
- Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology
- Commercial Truck Driving
Cosmetology
- Cosmetology
- Cosmetology Teacher Training
Workforce (non-credit)
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Phlebotomy
- Pharmacy Technician
- Dental Assistant with Dental Radiology
Campus Locations
Perkinston, MS 51 Main Street, Perkinston, MS 39573
Gautier, MS 2300 Highway 90, Gautier, MS 39553
Gulfport, MS 2226 Switzer Road, Gulfport, MS 39507
Gulfport, MS 10298 Express Drive, Gulfport, MS 39503
Biloxi, MS 19330 Highway 67, Biloxi, MS 39532
Lucedale, MS 11203 Old Highway 63 South, Lucedale, MS 39452
Gulfport (Long Beach), MS 21500 B. Street, Long Beach, MS 39560