Miami Dade College

A College of Excellence

With 165,000 currently enrolled students and more than 2 million students admitted since it opened its doors in 1960, Miami Dade College (MDC) is the largest campus-based institution of higher education in the United States. MDC's eight campuses are located in and around Miami, Florida, and include Hialeah, Homestead, InterAmerican, Kendall, Medical, North, West and Wolfson campuses. In addition, MDC has an outreach center: The Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center.

The College's multiple locations throughout Miami-Dade County offer students highly flexible scheduling options for more than 300 pathways of study. Students may pursue four-year bachelor's degrees and two-year associate degrees, as well as various vocational and college credit certificates. MDC offers evening and weekend courses, and classes online through its Virtual College at http://www.mdc.edu/virtual/.

Miami Dade College, its students, faculty and staff, have also been recognized through numerous prestigious awards and honors. Recent examples include the 2017 Leah Meyer Austin Award from Achieving the Dream, the 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from Insight into Diversity, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was presented to MDC President Eduardo J. Padrón by former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Academic Programs

Miami Dade College offers bachelor's programs in select majors, including biological sciences, data analytics, education, electronics engineering technology, film, TV and digital production, information systems technology, nursing, physician assistant studies, public safety management, supervision and management, and supply chain management. All bachelor's programs at MDC are workforce driven, with coursework designed to prepare students for a specific career.

Two-year associate degrees prepare students to enter into junior-year studies at universities or for immediate employment in certain career fields. MDC offers hundreds of associate degree pathways in areas such as accounting, architecture, biology, computer science, criminal justice, dietetics, education, fashion, hospitality, interior design, journalism, paralegal studies, social work and sociology. MDC awards more associate degrees to Hispanics than any other institution of higher education in the United States.

The College also offers more than 80 college credit certificates that focus on a unique industry or specific job. Credits earned may be applied toward a related Associate in Science degree.
In 2018, MDC launched several trailblazing certificate programs, including cybersecurity, digital forensics, mechatronics and visual and augmented reality.

Students considering MDC have the option to apply to The Honors College, a division of Miami Dade College that is open to high school graduates with exceptional GPA and SAT scores. Benefits of admission to The Honors College include small classes, study-abroad opportunities, development of capstone projects for potential publication and personalized educational planning.

Seamless Transfers

A student graduating with an associate degree from MDC is guaranteed admission to any public university in Florida, as well as several other universities nationwide with which MDC has articulation agreements. Graduates of Miami Dade College have transferred to top-ranking institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, Columbia, and Boston University.

Specialized Training and Certificate Options for Students

Miami Dade College offers several options for students looking to start new careers, improve their job skills or learn a trade. MDC's technical certification programs prepare students for specific vocations in over 40 areas, including electronic technology, firefighting, massage therapy, medical assisting, pharmacy technician and television production.

Non-credit and alternative education options at MDC include GED preparation, English as a second language (ESL) courses and dual enrollment courses open to accelerated high school students.

Ample Study Abroad Opportunities

Students at MDC can study in other countries while earning credits toward an MDC degree. The College sponsors study-abroad programs as well as numerous faculty-led programs to destinations around the world. As a member of the College Consortium for International Students (CCIS), MDC students also are able to participate in study-abroad programs sponsored by other CCIS partner institutions.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Ample financial aid opportunities are available based on financial need and/or academic record, and include direct loan programs, scholarships, federal student aid, Pell Grants, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and MDC's American Dream Scholarship, which covers two years of tuition for qualified high-achieving students.

Winning Sharks Teams

Miami Dade College is home to five intercollegiate athletic teams: women's basketball, softball and volleyball, as well as men's basketball and baseball. Since 1961, the Miami Dade College Sharks have won multiple championship games and various recognitions and honors. MDC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Florida Community College Activities Association's Southern Conference. MDC has captured more than 30 national collegiate athletic titles and is considered one of the most successful athletic programs in the nation.

A Growing List of Notable Alumni

Graduates from MDC include many notable performers, political figures and celebrities, including: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Emilio Estefan, Sylvester Stallone, Oscar-winning playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Mirta Ojito, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, former Major League Baseball catcher Mike Piazza, The Related Group co-founder and CEO Jorge M. Perez and Miami Herald president and publisher Alexandra Villoch.

A Beacon for the Arts

In addition to being one of the foremost colleges in the region, MDC is the home of several of South Florida's most prominent cultural institutions. The College produces and hosts nationally acclaimed events such as the Miami Book Fair and Miami Film Festival, and operates cultural venues including the Museum of Art and Design at MDC, Tower Theater, Koubek Center, the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower and Teatro Prometeo.