History
Miami Dade College was established in 1959 and welcomed its first group of students in 1960. Nicknamed Chicken Coop College, after the original buildings that were converted into classrooms, 1,428 students attended the first year.
Amid the politics of desegregation and the convergence of Cuban refugees, Dade County Junior College admitted seven black students and was the first Florida junior college to be integrated.
By the mid 1960s, approximately 15,000 students attended the school. The college became one of the largest in the state of Florida by 1967, with over 23,000 students enrolled.
In 1970, a downtown campus was opened. This was a decade of growth for Miami Dade College. In 1977, the Medical Center Campus opened its doors and by 1979, bilingual studies were offered with 2,000 students enrolled in outreach areas. These eventually became the Inter America Center.
By 1983, over 18,000 students attending Miami Dade College were immigrants and refugees. Women made up 56% of the student body. 66% of students were minorities. At this time, Miami Dade entered a partnership with Florida International University.
Miami Dade College opened its fifth campus in First Baptist Church in 1985 with 350 students in attendance. A modern campus was opened in 1991 to accommodate the growing student body. The college had gained national recognition by 1989, when it became the best community college in the United States.
Miami Dade College had welcomed 1.5 million students by 2000. It still continues to grow today, not only in educational resources but also socially, culturally and economically.
Academics
Miami Dade College has eight campuses. The academic programs are accredited by many prestigious institutions, including:
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistant
- Florida Board of Nursing
- Federal Aviation Administration
Associate Degrees are offered in more than 150 fields. Examples include:
- Biology
- Science Applied Sciences
- Social Work
- Engineering
- Arts
- Pre-law
- Teaching
The curriculum has been created to accommodate students who wish to attend a four year institution. The Graduate of Honors is designed for gifted high school students and many have went on to attend such prestigious educational institutions such as Columbia, Stanford and Yale.
Student Life
Each of the eight campuses of Miami Dade College offer students a unique perspective on college life. They provide assistance to promote cultural richness and diversity and support students as they hone leadership skills, grow intellectually and evaluate their personal values. Students are also prepared to be active and informed citizens of the community.
Athletics
Miami Dade College is part of the Florida Community College Activities Association Southern Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association. Their five intercollegiate teams include:
- Men's Baseball
- Women's Softball
- Men's Basketball
- Women's Basketball
- Women's Volleyball
Community
The Miami Dade community is a tropical paradise. Beaches are abundant for fun in the sun. The nearby Everglades National Park is a unique outdoor experience and is home to fourteen endangered and rare species. The park is also a great place for the outdoor enthusiast to canoe, camp or hike.
If you like to shop or party, South Beach is the place for you. Art galleries, boutiques and museums are plentiful and the night life is amazing.
Other interesting attractions include, Coral Castle, Parrot Jungle Island, Miami Museum of Science, Seaquarium and many more. Be sure to check out festivals and events taking place locally. There's always something going on in the Miami Dade area.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $8,800. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $30 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Tuition estimates per year:
- State Residents: $2,000-$2,400
- Out-of-State: $7,900-$9,536
- Charges for part-time students are:
- In-State: $120-$140 per unit
- Out-of-State: $400-$480 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 78% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 77% | $5,214 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 18% | $2,973 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, Miami Dade College may offer student services like:
- Online classes
- Classes offered on nights and weekends
- Remedial courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Work study style employment
- Employment search assistance
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Community colleges offer a variety of career and transfer options for students. The following table shows the graduation and transfer-out rates for this school, versus those community colleges in Florida, which can be valuable information for determining which school to attend.
| MDC | Miami-Dade County | Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 31.8% | - | 36.8% |
| Transfer-out Rate | 11.3% | - | 12.6% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
Campus: Med Ctr Campus
- Dental Hygienist Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1970)
- Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1980)
- See all 186 nursing schools in Florida
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 2011)
- See all 186 nursing schools in Florida
- Radiology Technician Program
- Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1975)
Campus: North Campus
- Funeral Service Education Program
- Accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation (since 1981)
Campus: Miami Dade College
- Funeral Service Education Program
- Accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation (since 1967)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Miami Dade College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Landscaping (A, C)
Architecture
- Architectural Technology (A)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B)
- Biotechnology (A, C)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (A, B, C)
- Entrepreneurship (C)
- Bookkeeping (A, C)
- Banking and Financial Services (C)
- Advertising and Marketing (A, C)
- Finance (A)
- Hotel and Hospitality Management (C)
- Data Entry Technology (C)
- Restaurant and Food Services Management (C)
- Real Estate (C)
- Office Management and Supervision (A, C)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (A)
- Tourism and Travel Services Management (A)
- Administrative Assistant (C)
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Operations Management
- Retail Management
- Customer Service Support
- Fashion Merchandising
- Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations
Communication Technology
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Programming, Vendor and Product Certification (C)
- Information Technology (A, C)
- System Administration (A)
- Computer Graphics (A)
- Computer Programming (A)
- Computer Programming, Specific Applications (C)
- Web Design (A, C)
- Computer Support Specialist (C)
- Computer Networking (A, C)
Construction Trades
- Electrician (C)
- Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitter
- Plumber
Education
- Special Education (B)
- Early Childhood Education (A, B)
- Education, Teaching Individuals with Hearing Impairments (A, C)
- Biology Teacher Education (B)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (B)
- Chemistry Teacher Education (B)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development
Engineering Technology
- Cad Drafting (C)
- Electrical and Communications Engineering Technology (A, B)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) (C)
- Computer Engineering (A)
- Construction Engineering Technology (A)
- Industrial Production Technologies (C)
- Biomedical Technology (A)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technician (A)
- Civil Engineering Technology
- Automation Engineer Technician
- Refrigeration Technology
- Automotive Engineering
- Architectural Drafting cad
- Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting cad
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Child Care Provider (C)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A, B)
- EMT & Paramedic (A, C)
- Phlebotomy (C)
- Pharmacy Technician (C)
- Physician Assistant (A)
- Massage Therapy (C)
- Dental Hygienist (A)
- Physical Therapist Assistant (A)
- Medical Lab Technician (A)
- Radiology Technician (A)
- Opticianry, Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician (A)
- Health Information and Medical Records Technology (A, C)
- Medical Assistant (C)
- Respiratory Therapy (A)
- Ultrasound Technician (A)
- Veterinary Assistant (A)
- Health Services (B)
- Histologic Technician (A)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling (C)
- Community Health Services, Liaison, Counseling (A)
- Nuclear Medicine (A, C)
- Dietetic Technician
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Legal Professions and Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
Natural Resources and Conservation
Personal and Culinary Services
- Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (A, C)
- Culinary Arts (C)
- Restaurant and Catering Management (A, C)
Precision Production
Security and Protective Services
- Fire Science (C)
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting (B)
- Police Science (C)
- Security and Loss Prevention Services (C)
- Law and Justice Administration (A, C)
- Corrections Officer (C)
- Forensic Science (A, C)
- Fire Prevention (A)
- Homeland Security (C)
Transportation and Materials Moving
- Aviation and Airway Management (A, C)
- Commercial Airline Pilot (A)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Cinematography And Film (A, B)
- Music Technology (A)
- Interior Design (A)
- Photography (A)
- Commercial and Advertising Art
- Theatre Design and Technology
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Miami Dade College.
- Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, FL (24 miles away)
- Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, FL (58 miles away)
- Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, FL (114 miles away)
- Edison State College in Fort Myers, FL (118 miles away)
- Florida Keys Community College in Key West, FL (127 miles away)