Miami Dade College

A College of Excellence

Miami Dade College is the most diverse institution in the nation with students from 174 nations who speak 69 languages. It is also one of the nation’s largest colleges with more than 120,000 students.

The college’s eight campuses, outreach centers and online courses offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates and apprenticeships. Baccalaureate degree offerings include biological sciences, engineering, data analytics, information systems technology, education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film and others. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards including the Aspen Prize.

Dubbed by many as Democracy’s College, MDC changes lives through accessible, high quality-teaching and learning experiences. It is the home of the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, the Eig-Watson School of Aviation, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, the Cloud Computing Center, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation, the School for Advanced Studies, and the New World School of the Arts, to name a few of its most innovative programs. MDC has been named among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College embraces its responsibility to serve as an economic, cultural and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community.

Its alumni and employees contribute more than $3 billion annually to the local economy. MDC graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC is renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is the home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, Tower Theater, Dyer Building, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, the Museum of Art and Design, a sculpture park, and a large campus art gallery and theater system.

MDC has admitted more than 2 million students and counting, since first opening its doors in 1960. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.

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, cybersecurity, 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 digital forensics, mechatronics, and visual and augmented (VR/AR) reality.

MDC recently opened the state-of-the-art Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation (CLIS), offering sophisticated technology-enhanced training at its Medical Campus, and the Business Innovation and Technology Center (BIT) at Wolfson Campus, a hub to explore technology impacts on the business landscape.

Students considering MDC have the option to apply to The Honors College, a division 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 dozens of 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, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton and Boston University.

Specialized Training and Certificate Options for Students

Miami Dade College offers many 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

When international travel is permissible, 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. In addition, to expand student scholarships and other financial support, the College received more than $49 million through the federal CARES Act and other sources to provide assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 35 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: former 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 former 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 and the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower.