Metropolitan Community College (MCC) is one public college spread across the Kansas City region, not a single downtown building. Its four full-service campuses sit in Independence, Lee’s Summit, Midtown and the Northland; two specialist institutes nearby concentrate health-care and skilled-trades training. MCC traces its history to the Kansas City Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1915, and describes itself as Missouri’s first community college. Today its catalog spans more than 120 degrees and certificates, with a growing bachelor’s option in respiratory care.
Start with the credential and the address
The catalog includes transfer-oriented associate degrees, career-focused applied degrees, certificates, bachelor’s study and noncredit workforce training. MCC groups programs into eight academic and career pathways, including business, health sciences, applied technology and manufacturing, public service, and science and engineering. Associate degrees require at least 60 credits under district policy; a bachelor’s degree requires 120 or more. Those totals do not translate automatically to two calendar years: placement courses, prerequisites, clinical rotations, part-time schedules and transferable credits can change the plan. Certificates vary in length; MCC’s utility-lineman certificate, for example, is described as a one-year route, while individual health and technical programs publish their own credit sequences.
Choosing a location is part of choosing a program. Blue River in Independence is a base for public-safety, EMS, paramedic, lineman and cybersecurity training. Longview in Lee’s Summit combines transfer study with automotive technology and a Cultural Arts Center. Maple Woods in the Northland is known for agriculture, veterinary technology and related sciences. Midtown’s Penn Valley is the in-person home for credit-bearing ESL and a broad range of academic fields. The Health Science Institute on Broadway and Advanced Technical Skills Institute on Troost are separate specialist facilities, each with its own address and program mix.
Admission is open, with extra steps for selected programs
MCC describes its policy as open admission. Applicants can qualify with a high-school diploma, HiSET or equivalent, home-school graduation, or transfer status. Some adults age 18 or older who have not completed high school may be admitted as special students, limited to 12 credits in their first term before the college reviews their status; applicants under 18 need approval. Selective health-care and career programs may require prerequisites, testing or a separate application. General admission therefore opens the door to MCC, but does not guarantee a place in every cohort. Use the official admissions checklist to choose the right applicant path and submit records.
What tuition costs in 2026–27
Beginning Fall 2026, the published rate is $126 per credit for in-district students, $246 for out-of-district and qualifying Metro-rate students, and $332 for out-of-state or international students. A 12-credit semester is therefore $1,512, $2,952 or $3,984 in tuition alone. A 30-credit academic year would total $3,780, $7,380 or $9,960 before program fees and other expenses. Residents of Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas qualify for the MCC Metro Rate. Courses in HVAC, radiologic technology, EMS, welding, nursing and several other fields add published per-course program fees, from $55 to $500 depending on the tier. Books, equipment, lab costs and transport are separate. Check MCC’s current tuition and fee table against your residency and planned load.
FAFSA, scholarships and Missouri A+
Students seeking federal or state aid start with the FAFSA and MCC’s school code, 002484. The college lists February 1 as the FAFSA priority date and April 1 for first consideration of 2026–27 institutional scholarships through Scholarship Universe. MCC reported that 54 percent of its students received more than $35 million in grants, scholarships and third-party aid during 2024–25; that figure describes the prior year, not a promise of an award. Missouri’s A+ benefit can cover eligible tuition and general fees after other non-loan federal aid is applied. Its rules include graduation from an A+ high school, full-time enrollment, FAFSA filing and academic-progress requirements. Review the scholarship application dates and the current A+ conditions before estimating what you will owe.
English classes can be a first step at Penn Valley
MCC’s credit-bearing English as a Second Language program is taught at Penn Valley. Incoming ESL students take a placement test; the first attempt is free, testing can take two to three hours, and the college asks students to bring a government photo ID or passport. TOEFL is not required for general MCC admission. Classes cover grammar, composition, reading and vocabulary, speaking, and listening. The program publishes 16-week fall and spring terms and an eight-week summer term; selected schedules include live virtual sections. This route is different from noncredit adult English classes and from the placement support used for regular college courses. Ask the ESL department about the next test appointment and schedule, then use the ESL program page to check the current offering.
Plan the trip, parking and student support
The campuses cover a large metro area, so use the address for the actual class rather than the college’s administrative office. MCC says students can park free, but vehicles need the college’s parking sticker; the permit page lists where to obtain one at each campus and at HSI and ATSI. Penn Valley is served by RideKC Route 31, while bus and on-demand service elsewhere should be checked in the current trip planner because routes and schedules change. All four main campuses list a café and food pantry; MCC also identifies a gym at Blue River and fitness centers at Maple Woods and Penn Valley. Tutoring, advising, disability services and libraries are available through the student-resource network. The official campus maps distinguish buildings, parking and accessible routes.
Six useful starting points
Blue River in Independence is the eastern campus for public safety and technical training. Longview in Lee’s Summit pairs academic transfer with automotive programs and arts events. Maple Woods serves the Northland with agriculture, veterinary technology and a fitness center. Penn Valley is the Midtown campus and the place to ask about credit ESL. The nearby Health Science Institute gives health students simulation and clinical-practice rooms; Advanced Technical Skills Institute houses hands-on trade training and welding certification tests. MCC-Online is a separate virtual option, while 3200 Broadway is an administrative center—not another teaching campus.
Before applying, write down the credential, its location, the number of credits, the tuition rate for your residency and any program fees. Then submit the admissions application, complete the FAFSA or scholarship steps, and speak with an advisor about prerequisites and a term-by-term plan. If English is the immediate barrier, contact Penn Valley ESL about placement and class dates. A short call can prevent a wasted trip to a different MCC address or an application to the wrong program.
Check current details and choose according to your budget, time and way of travelling.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Metropolitan Community College — Blue River Campus
20301 East 78 Highway, Independence, MO 64057
Blue River sits at 20301 East 78 Highway in Independence, on the eastern side of MCC’s service area. The campus page directs new students to its Education Center and Welcome Center; the address is also the place to verify before visiting a classroom or training unit, since specialized activities may
Blue River pairs general transfer study with police, fire, EMS, paramedic, utility-lineman and cybersecurity training. Its Education Center, campus gym, library and student support points make it a practical first stop for eastern Jackson County.
Metropolitan Community College — Longview Campus
500 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64081
MCC-Longview is at 500 SW Longview Road in Lee’s Summit, south of Kansas City. The campus map separates the Campus Center, learning resources, classrooms and science or technology buildings, so students should use the room and building listed in their schedule rather than assuming every service is a
Longview combines transfer and career study with the MCC Automotive Institute and Cultural Arts Center. Its 500 SW Longview Road campus in Lee’s Summit also hosts Wolves soccer and volleyball.
Metropolitan Community College — Maple Woods Campus
2601 NE Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64156
Maple Woods occupies the Northland address 2601 NE Barry Road. The official campus map places the Agriculture Annex, Veterinary Technology Center, library and Sports Training Center in different buildings, making this a campus where the academic destination matters as much as the street address.
Maple Woods is MCC’s Northland base for agriculture, veterinary technology and related sciences, with a 2,100-square-foot greenhouse in the Agriculture Annex and a campus fitness center.
Metropolitan Community College — Penn Valley Campus
3201 Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64111
Penn Valley is at 3201 Southwest Trafficway, in Midtown Kansas City. Its map names the Enrollment Center, learning-resource buildings, library, gym and other academic spaces; the student-services address is not a substitute for checking where a particular class meets. The separate Health Science Ins
Penn Valley is MCC’s Midtown campus and the district’s home for credit-bearing ESL. Its academic buildings sit near two separate specialist sites: the Health Science Institute on Broadway and the Advanced Technical Skills Institute on Troost.
MCC-Penn Valley — Health Science Institute
3444 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111
The Health Science Institute, or HSI, is at 3444 Broadway, a distinct MCC address a short distance from the main Penn Valley campus. It is not the same stop as the 3201 Southwest Trafficway Enrollment Center. The institute page lists separate contacts for credit career programs, nursing, professiona
The Health Science Institute concentrates clinical and simulation-based instruction, including a dental teaching suite, EMS practice environments and health-information resources.
MCC-Penn Valley — Advanced Technical Skills Institute
2944 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64109
The Advanced Technical Skills Institute (ATSI) stands at 2944 Troost Avenue, in Kansas City, separate from Penn Valley’s main campus and its Health Science Institute. MCC describes it as a 101,108-square-foot facility designed around skilled trades and built with employer and instructor input. The c
ATSI is a 101,108-square-foot hands-on trades facility at 2944 Troost, with indoor and outdoor work-simulation classrooms, individual stations and an AWS-accredited welder-testing facility.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Blue River Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Blue River Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Blue River Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Blue River Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Blue River Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Longview Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Longview Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Longview Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Longview Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Longview Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Maple Woods Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Maple Woods Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Maple Woods Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Maple Woods Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Maple Woods Campus ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Penn Valley Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Penn Valley Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Penn Valley Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Penn Valley Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Metropolitan Community College — Penn Valley Campus ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Health Science Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Health Science Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Health Science Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Health Science Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Health Science Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Advanced Technical Skills Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Advanced Technical Skills Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Advanced Technical Skills Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Advanced Technical Skills Institute ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of MCC-Penn Valley — Advanced Technical Skills Institute ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
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Official website ↗
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RideKC · Accessed October 26, 2026
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Official website ↗
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Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Metropolitan Community College · Accessed October 26, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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MCC-Blue River location listing ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 26, 2026
Puntuación y número de opiniones capturados de la ficha exacta. Checked 2026-10-26; exact campus name and street address match.
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MCC-Longview location listing ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 26, 2026
Puntuación y número de opiniones capturados de la ficha exacta. Checked 2026-10-26; exact campus name and street address match.
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MCC-Maple Woods location listing ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 26, 2026
Puntuación y número de opiniones capturados de la ficha exacta. Checked 2026-10-26; exact campus name and street address match.
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MCC-Penn Valley location listing ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 26, 2026
Puntuación y número de opiniones capturados de la ficha exacta. Checked 2026-10-26; exact campus name and street address match.
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Health Science Institute location listing ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 26, 2026
Puntuación y número de opiniones capturados de la ficha exacta. Checked 2026-10-26; exact campus name and street address match.
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Advanced Technical Skills Institute location listing ↗
Secondary source
Google Maps · Accessed October 26, 2026
Puntuación y número de opiniones capturados de la ficha exacta. Checked 2026-10-26; exact campus name and street address match.