| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year community college district, tax-supported; campus classes plus online courses through its Online Campus |
| Campuses | 4 teaching sites, all in St. Charles County, Missouri, in the St. Louis area: the main campus in Cottleville, Dardenne Creek in Dardenne Prairie, and two Wentzville sites (Technical Campus Wentzville and the Regional Workforce Innovation Center) |
| Credentials | Associate degrees (AAS career degrees; AA, AAT, AFA and AS transfer degrees, plus the Nursing AS), Certificates of Achievement and Certificates of Specialization |
| Programs | 60+ programs, according to the college |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission; next comprehensive evaluation 2031-32 |
| Federal aid | Yes (OPE ID 025306) |
| Fall 2026 tuition | In person, per credit: $116-$231 in-district, $185-$300 out-of-district, $247-$362 out-of-state, by course tier; online $15 more; plus $14 in fees |
| Students | 8,415 credit students in 2024-25 (unduplicated); about 6,400 in fall 2025 |
| Founded | Created by a St. Charles County district vote in 1986; first classes 1987 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
St. Charles Community College: a public college with four St. Charles County sites
St. Charles Community College (SCC) is the public community college district for St. Charles County, Missouri, in the St. Louis area. County voters created the district in 1986, and the first classes were held in 1987. The college enrolled 8,415 credit students over the 2024-25 year and about 6,400 in fall 2025, 54% of them full-time, according to its fast facts.
SCC teaches transfer degrees alongside career programs in nursing and allied health, the building and manufacturing trades, business and computing. Its biggest recent change is the Regional Workforce Innovation Center in Wentzville, which opened for fall 2025 and now houses most trades programs. SCC also runs the Campus Lake Apartments, college housing for up to 130 students.
Career programs at SCC, and where they meet
The college says it offers more than 60 programs. The table shows the main career programs, where each is taught and the in-district cost estimates SCC publishes for some of them at Fall 2026 prices. Nursing estimates leave out uniforms, stethoscopes and NCLEX fees. Check the 2026-27 catalog for credit totals and certificate titles in the trades, business and computing programs.
| Program | Credential | Where | Accreditation / exam | SCC estimate, in-district, Fall 2026 prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (ADN, for RN) | AS, 72 credits | Dardenne Creek | ACEN; NCLEX-RN | about $14,658 |
| LPN-to-ADN Bridge | AS (advanced placement), 43 credits | Dardenne Creek | NCLEX-RN | about $8,661 |
| Practical Nursing | Certificate of Achievement, 46 credits | Dardenne Creek | Missouri Board approval; NCLEX-PN | about $10,215 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | AAS, 66 credits | Dardenne Creek | ACOTE; NBCOT | about $13,280 tuition plus about $2,335 other costs |
| Surgical Technology | AAS, 2 years, fall start | Dardenne Creek | Not yet accredited: CAAHEP initial accreditation pending | – |
| Medical Assisting | Certificate of Achievement, 30 credits, 2 semesters | Hybrid; advising at Dardenne Creek | AMT RMA exam (not CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited) | about $5,690 |
| Medical Billing & Coding | Certificate, 35 credits | HIM courses online | AHIMA CCA exam | about $6,740 |
| Welding | AAS; Basic Welding and other certificates | Technical Campus Wentzville | AWS certification tests | – |
| HVAC/R | Certificate of Achievement (2026-27 catalog); a 2023 Certificate of Specialization | Regional Workforce Innovation Center | NC3 Residential HVAC | – |
| Plumbing; Electrician; Machining; Mechatronics Engineering Technology; Supply Chain & Logistics | AAS degrees, some with certificates | Regional Workforce Innovation Center | – | – |
| Culinary; Baking & Pastry | AAS with embedded certificates | Dardenne Creek (Field to Table Institute) | – | – |
| Computer Science; Information Technology; Cyber Security | AAS; certificates in IT and cyber security | Cottleville | CompTIA, Cisco and other vendor exams (IT) | – |
| Law Enforcement | AAS; Certificate of Achievement | Cottleville | No police academy found; does not lead to POST licensure | – |
| Commercial Driving (CDL) | Credit program | Wentzville (no street address published) | CDL | – |
Programmatic accreditation, as SCC lists it: ACEN for nursing (the ADN holds Continuing Accreditation) and ACOTE for Occupational Therapy Assistant; the Missouri State Board of Nursing fully approves the PN and ADN programs. Surgical Technology is new and not yet accredited: CAAHEP has scheduled a site visit for initial accreditation, and SCC notes this is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee.
The Emergency Medical Science AAS is a completion degree for students who already hold a paramedic licence; SCC grants 30 credits for passing the NREMT paramedic exam and names Respond Right EMS Academy and the St. Charles County Ambulance District as partners. Music and theatre are transfer programs.
What the main programs cover
Nursing AS (ADN) and the LPN-to-ADN bridge
The Nursing AS is 72 credits: 31 in general education and 41 in nursing, taught at Dardenne Creek with clinical placements. Applicants need HESI A2 scores of at least 75% in anatomy and physiology, vocabulary, reading and math, and a 3.0 GPA over 14 or more credits; science prerequisites must be under five years old with a C or better. Licensed practical nurses can take the 43-credit bridge after six months of LPN work and a HESI LPN-to-RN Mobility score of 600 or more. Both lead to the NCLEX-RN.
Practical Nursing
The Practical Nursing certificate of achievement is 46 credits, 13 in general education and 33 in nursing, at the Dardenne Creek campus, with clinicals. Entry is selective: applicants need HESI A2 scores of at least 70% in anatomy and physiology, vocabulary, reading and math and a 2.7 GPA over 13 or more credits, and science prerequisites must be no more than five years old. Cohorts start in spring and fall. Graduates sit the NCLEX-PN for an LPN licence, and can later return for the bridge.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
The OTA AAS is 66 credits. All OTA classes are in person at Dardenne Creek, while general-education courses can be taken at the Cottleville campus or online. Students finish with Level II fieldwork, which must be completed within 18 months of the coursework, and then sit the NBCOT exam to work as a certified occupational therapy assistant. To apply, students need 12 credits with a 2.5 GPA, English 101 at C or better and math placement; SCC admits in fall and spring on a rolling basis.
Surgical Technology
Surgical Technology is a two-year AAS taught at Dardenne Creek, with a fall start. SCC began reviewing applications on 1 April 2026, and applicants must complete four hours of job shadowing in an operating room with a certified surgical technologist. The program is in CAAHEP’s initial accreditation process, with a site visit scheduled, and SCC states that this is not a status of accreditation or a guarantee of it. Students should ask how the accreditation outcome affects eligibility for the certification exam before enrolling.
Medical Assisting
Medical Assisting is a 30-credit certificate of achievement over two semesters, taught in a hybrid format, with advising at Dardenne Creek. It includes a 180-hour clinical externship. Graduates are eligible for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam from American Medical Technologists. SCC does not claim CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation for the program, so students should check whether the employers they plan to apply to accept the RMA.
Welding
Welding is taught at the Technical Campus Wentzville, as a Welding AAS and shorter certificates, including Basic Welding. The curriculum follows the American Welding Society’s SENSE guidelines and covers shielded metal arc (SMAW), gas metal arc (GMAW), flux-cored (FCAW) and gas tungsten arc (GTAW) welding. Students can work through entry-level and advanced welder paths and test for AWS certifications, which are recorded so employers can check them. Check the catalog for credit totals and certificate lengths.
Tuition and how students pay
SCC’s 2026-27 prices took effect in Fall 2026. Tuition depends on residency and on each course’s prefix tier. In-district means living in St. Charles County (except county residents who live in, and pay taxes to, the Washington School District; parts of Foristell outside the county pay out-of-district rates); out-of-district means elsewhere in Missouri.
| From Fall 2026, per credit, in person | Base | Tier I | Tier II | Tier III |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-district (St. Charles County) | $116 | $156 | $216 | $231 |
| Out-of-district (elsewhere in Missouri) | $185 | $225 | $285 | $300 |
| Out-of-state | $247 | $287 | $347 | $362 |
Tier I covers course prefixes including medical assisting, IT, CAD, commercial driving, electrical, HVAC, logistics, mechatronics, manufacturing, machining and plumbing; Tier II covers OTA, welding and culinary; Tier III covers practical nursing, nursing and surgical technology. All other courses are billed at the base rate. Online courses cost $15 more per credit at every tier. On top of tuition, every student pays a $10 technology fee and a $4 student success fee per credit. Course fees include $40 for science labs and $50 for art studios. Nursing adds a $200 program fee, $60 for HESI and $105 for a drug screen and background check.
College Navigator gives 2024-25 tuition and fees for a full year of $3,048 in-district, $4,656 for other Missouri residents and $6,096 out-of-state. SCC takes federal student aid (OPE ID 025306). The tuition and payment page lists current rates.
Open admission, with selective health programs
SCC admits students openly. Nursing, OTA and surgical technology have their own applications, test-score and GPA minimums, described above. Nursing deadlines for the coming year:
- Nursing AS and LPN-to-ADN bridge: 20 October 2026 for a spring 2027 start; 1 February 2027 for fall 2027.
- Practical Nursing: 1 December 2026 for spring 2027; 1 May 2027 for fall 2027.
Culinary applicants need a college GPA covering at least 12 credits. The program pages we checked do not set out day and evening schedules, so ask the department about class times.
Accreditation and results
SCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the college says its next comprehensive evaluation is in 2031-32. Accreditation was reaffirmed after a 2021 visit (HLC action letter dated 4 March 2022). SCC is an NC-SARA participant for distance education. The nursing pass rates below are SCC’s own figures.
| Measure | Result | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing AS, first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate | 92.1% (82 of 89) | 2025, SCC nursing page |
| Practical Nursing, first-attempt NCLEX-PN pass rate | 91.3% (21 of 23) | 2025, SCC nursing page |
| OTA, NBCOT pass rate for new graduates | 88% three-year average (94%, 76% and 94%) | 2023-2025, SCC OTA page |
| OTA graduation rate | 90% (45 graduates) | 2023-2025, SCC OTA page |
| Graduation rate | 25% within 150% of normal time | Full-time, first-time students entering fall 2021, College Navigator |
| Transfer-out rate | 21% | Same cohort, College Navigator |
| Retention | 63% of full-time and 42% of part-time students returned | Fall 2023 to fall 2024, College Navigator |
SCC’s nursing page says graduates have high employment rates among survey respondents but gives no cohort or response rate, so we have not used it. We found no published pass rates for medical assisting, medical billing and coding, welding or HVAC certifications.
Before you enroll
- Surgical Technology is not yet accredited. CAAHEP has scheduled a site visit for initial accreditation, which SCC says is not a guarantee.
- The Law Enforcement degree does not make you a police officer. We found no police academy at SCC, and the degree does not license graduates as Missouri peace officers.
- The Emergency Medical Science AAS is only for students who already hold a paramedic licence. SCC does not train paramedics; its EMS page names outside partners.
- The $116 headline rate is the base tier for county residents. Nursing and surgical technology courses cost $231 in-district and $362 out-of-state per credit in person, before the $14 in fees.
- Only 25% of the full-time, first-time students who started in fall 2021 graduated within 150% of normal time, and 21% transferred out (College Navigator).
Four sites: what each teaches
| Campus | Address | Main programs taught here |
|---|---|---|
| Main campus, Cottleville | 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Cottleville, MO 63376 | Transfer degrees, business, computer science, IT and cyber security, graphic design, law enforcement, exercise science, music and theatre; Campus Lake Apartments |
| Dardenne Creek | 1 Academy Place, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368 | Nursing (PN, ADN, LPN bridge), OTA, surgical technology, culinary and baking & pastry |
| Technical Campus Wentzville | 209 West Pearce Blvd., Wentzville, MO 63385 | Welding |
| Regional Workforce Innovation Center | 2400 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385 | HVAC, plumbing, electrician, machining, manufacturing, mechatronics, facilities, robotics, supply chain |
SCC’s OTA page gives the Dardenne Creek address as O’Fallon, MO 63368, while its campuses page says Dardenne Prairie, so check the address before visiting. SCC says commercial driving training takes place at locations in Wentzville but publishes no street address for it. The Online Campus offers online courses rather than a location.
Campus apartments and work placements
The Campus Lake Apartments on the Cottleville campus have housed up to 130 students since January 2020. Work experience is built into several programs: clinicals in nursing, Level II fieldwork in OTA and a 180-hour externship in medical assisting. HVAC students train through SCC’s partnership with NC3 and Trane. The college fields eight intercollegiate athletic teams and has more than 15 clubs.
What students say on Niche
SCC has a 3.85 out of 5 rating from 549 reviews on Niche (checked October 2026). Reviewers most often praise supportive, accessible professors and small classes, low cost and flexible scheduling, and good preparation for transfer. The main complaints are a thin social scene on a commuter campus, problems with advising and communication, and limited, pricey dining. We could not tell whether the reviews were invited by the college or posted in bursts.
Sources
Checked October 2026: SCC campuses · Tuition and payment · Nursing · Occupational Therapy Assistant · Surgical Technology · Accreditation and approvals · Fast facts · College Navigator
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Nursing AS (ADN, for RN licensure)
- LPN-to-ADN Bridge
- Practical Nursing (LPN)
Allied Health
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Surgical Technology (CAAHEP accreditation pending)
- Medical Assisting
- Medical Billing & Coding
- Emergency Medical Science (completion degree for licensed paramedics)
Exercise Science
- Exercise Science
- Personal Trainer
Skilled Trades and Manufacturing
- HVAC/R
- Plumbing
- Electrician
- Industrial Trades - Facilities
- Industrial Trades - Robotics
- Machining
- Manufacturing
- Mechatronics Engineering Technology
- Welding
Supply Chain and Driving
- Supply Chain & Logistics
- Commercial Driving (CDL)
Business
- Business Administration (Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing and General Business areas)
- Retail Banking
- Entrepreneurship
Computing and Design
- Computer Science (including Data Analytics)
- Information Technology
- Cyber Security
- Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)
- Graphic Design
Culinary
- Culinary
- Baking & Pastry
Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
Campus Locations
St. Louis (Cottleville), MO 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Cottleville, MO 63376
St. Louis (Dardenne Prairie), MO 1 Academy Place, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368
St. Louis (Wentzville), MO 209 West Pearce Blvd., Wentzville, MO 63385
St. Louis (Wentzville), MO 2400 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385