Massasoit Community College: A Comprehensive Overview

Massasoit Community College (MCC), established in 1966, stands as a cornerstone of public higher education in southeastern Massachusetts. Named after Massasoit, the Great Sachem of the Wampanoag, the college has grown into a diverse and dynamic learning community, committed to supporting students in their pursuit of education, career advancement, transfer to four-year institutions, and lifelong learning. As the largest of the 15 Massachusetts public community colleges, Massasoit offers a wide array of academic and community programs across its campuses and instructional sites.

Campuses and Locations

Massasoit Community College operates across two campuses and three instructional sites, ensuring accessibility for students from over 130 cities and towns. These locations include:

Brockton
Canton
Middleborough

This widespread presence allows Massasoit to serve a broad population in Plymouth and Norfolk Counties.

Academic Programs

Massasoit Community College offers degrees and certificates in 43 different fields. The college is particularly noted for its STEM programs. Massasoit STEM students and faculty are actively involved in researching the impact of land-use policies on native bee populations in southeastern Massachusetts, a program built on a decade of dedicated research.

Some of the most popular programs include:

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

Business Administration and Management, General
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Biological and Physical Sciences

Nursing and Allied Health Programs

Massasoit’s nursing and allied health programs are highly regarded in New England, preparing students for vital roles in the healthcare industry.

Diesel Technology Program

The Diesel Technology program, unique in the state, offers hands-on training from industry experts at the Canton Campus, equipping students with the skills necessary for a career in diesel technology.

MassTransfer Program

Massasoit Community College is part of the Massachusetts public higher-education system. The Commonwealth’s public institutions of higher education have partnered with the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to develop the MassTransfer Program, which includes:

the MassTransfer Block
the A2B Degree Program
the Commonwealth Commitment Program

MassTransfer seeks to provide a broad population of students with straightforward and understandable options toward the completion of associate and baccalaureate degrees, clearing the way for student access and student success in Massachusetts’ public higher education system.

The A2B Degree Program and the Commonwealth Commitment Program have course pathways for different degrees.

MassTransfer Block

MassTransfer seeks to provide any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system the intermediate goal of completing a portable transfer block (“MassTransfer Block”) which satisfies general education/distribution/core requirements across institutions (with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits/two courses).

Students who complete their associate’s degrees at one of the Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges, and transfer to a state university or UMass campus within one year of graduation from community college, receive guaranteed admission (space permitting in the major and college) and transfer of credits. In addition, they are not required to pay application fees or submit application essays and are eligible to receive tuition waivers.

Commonwealth Commitment Program

To provide students of the Commonwealth’s public higher-education institutions with additional financial incentives to complete their bachelor’s degrees in a timely manner, DHE, in partnership with those institutions, has implemented the Commonwealth Commitment Program. In this program, students commit to completing their associate’s degrees within two and a half years, transferring to a state university or UMass campus, and completing their bachelor’s degrees within two more years. They must also maintain full-time continuous enrollment and earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point average. In return, they receive a tuition freeze while enrolled and a 10% rebate of tuition and mandatory fees in addition to the benefits of the A2B Degree Program.

Transfer Opportunities with UMass Amherst

Massasoit Community College provides robust transfer opportunities to several state and private colleges and universities. For example, several associate degrees are linked to programs at UMass Amherst, facilitating a seamless transition for students pursuing further education.

Visual Arts Pathway: Through this program, students can complete the Visual Arts pathway. Graduates of this associate degree may also be considered for most majors in the College of Humanities & Fine Arts or the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. BA majors in the College of Humanities & Fine Arts are subject to the college's foreign language requirement.
Biology Pathway: Students can also complete the Biology pathway as part of this program. It is recommended to use electives to prepare for the intended major at UMass Amherst. While not required, the following courses are also helpful to have completed for the nutrition major: Organic Chemistry I and II, Anatomy & Physiology, a microbiology course with a lab, a business class, Introductory Psychology, and Statistics. If students want to major in kinesiology, they should be prepared to start or finish applied Calculus I and II before entering UMass.
Chemistry Pathway: Students can also complete the Chemistry pathway as part of this program. If interested in chemistry, students are encouraged to complete Calculus III and General Biology I prior to transferring. If students want to pursue a nutrition major, they are encouraged to have completed at least two semesters of general chemistry equivalent to Chem 111 and 112, and one semester of biology equivalent to Bio 151, and be prepared to take Organic Chemistry.
Psychology (BA) major: This associate degree is linked to the following program(s) at UMass Amherst: College of Humanities and Fine Arts, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS), Psychology (BA) major. It is recommended to use electives to prepare for the intended major at UMass Amherst.
Education Majors: Education majors complete two academic programs as part of their bachelor's degree -- one in education and another in a different major. However, the education program is selective and requires an on-campus application. Therefore, incoming students are not admitted directly into the College of Education. If interested in pursuing education, students should apply to the major that they want to complete alongside their education major. After transfer, students will be able to apply to the College of Education as an on-campus applicant.

Student Life

Beyond academics, Massasoit offers a vibrant student life with a range of extracurricular, athletic, and student support services. Engaging fine and performing arts spaces in Brockton and Canton, and a nationally recognized athletics program helps students pursue their passions.

Athletics

Massasoit is a member of the NJCAA, in which it has won three national titles:

Men's Division II Baseball (1993)
Men's Soccer (1986 and 1987)

The college currently offers varsity sports in women's and men's soccer, women's and men's basketball, softball, and baseball.

Support Services

As Massasoit students prepare to graduate, the Career and Transfer offices are ready to help students take their next step.

Massasoit Community College provides a range of campus services to support students' academic and personal development. These include:

Employment services for students
Credit for life experiences
Academic/career counseling services
Placement services for completers
On-campus day care for students' children

Administration and Faculty

Massasoit Community College is authorized by Section 5 of Chapter 15A of the Massachusetts General Laws and operates under the direction of a board of trustees, the members of which are appointed by the Governor. The board is responsible for operating under the regulations promulgated by the Commonwealth’s Board of Higher Education; this includes setting policies, approving budgets, monitoring quarterly performance, and participating in the approval of internal audits.

The president of MCC is the administrative head of the college and reports to the board of trustees. The president is supported by:

the provost / vice president of academic and student affairs
the vice president of administration / chief financial officer
the vice president of human resources
the vice president of corporate and community education
the chief advancement officer
the chief of staff / associate vice president of strategy, planning, and innovation
the vice provost for student affairs / dean of students
the vice provost of academic affairs
the executive director of communications, public relations, and marketing

As of fall 2019, MCC had 6,637 students enrolled for credit courses and 2,529 students enrolled for non-credit courses. The college currently has 115 full-time faculty members, 423 part-time faculty members, 269 full-time staff members, and 229 part-time staff members.

Interim President

Bill Mitchell was named Interim President at Massasoit Community College in April 2024. From 1985 to 1994, Bill held a number of roles across Massasoit, including in finance, student activities, and as adjunct faculty. He served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Financial Services at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth from 1994 to 2012. In 2012, he returned to Massasoit as the Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer. A proud native of Brockton, Bill first came to Massasoit Community College as a student before his career in minor league baseball.

Admissions and Financial Information

Massasoit Community College has an open admissions policy, making higher education accessible to a wide range of students. The school utilizes a semester-based academic year, allowing for structured learning and progress.

Tuition and Fees

For the academic year 2020-2021, the in-state tuition and fees were $5,160, while out-of-state tuition and fees were $10,104. There is no application fee, further reducing barriers to entry.

Financial Aid

At Massasoit Community College, 46 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid, with the average scholarship or grant award being $4,131. This financial support helps students afford the cost of education and pursue their academic goals.

Additional costs include books and supplies, which are estimated at $1,440.

Student Demographics

As of Fall 2022:

Full-time enrollment: 2,016
Part-time enrollment: 3,649

The student-faculty ratio is 14-to-1, ensuring personalized attention and support for students.

The age distribution of students is as follows:

Under 18: 10%
18-24: 54%
25-64: 36%
Over 65: 0%

Appropriations

MCC received appropriations from the Commonwealth in the amounts of $21,174,138 and $21,887,604 for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, respectively.

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