Roxbury Community College

What Roxbury Community College does

Roxbury Community College (RCC) is a public community college established in 1976 in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts, operating under the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education system. RCC delivers two-year associate degrees (Arts and Science), certificate programs, and workforce development training across healthcare (nursing, radiologic technology, phlebotomy, medical billing), technology (Center for Smart Building Technology, information systems, engineering), criminal justice, biotechnology, and liberal arts disciplines. The institution enrolls a long-tail of individual students primarily from the Greater Boston area through a self-serve online application portal, supplemented by a State Early College pipeline with Boston Public Schools and employer partnerships for workforce credentialing.

RCC's product portfolio integrates academic instruction with a holistic support ecosystem built around Project Access — including the Rox Box food pantry, SNAP/MBTA/legal/behavioral health referrals, and the Heat-N-Eats Meal Program with Food For Free. Financial access is structurally enabled through Massachusetts state programs (MassEducate and MassReconnect) that provide tuition-free attendance to qualifying residents, plus the Boston Bridge pathway guaranteeing transfer to state universities, and MassTransfer articulation agreements with 50+ four-year institutions that reduce bachelor's degree costs by an average of 28%. Core technology infrastructure consists of the MyRCC student self-service portal, an online application system, and standard learning management tools; no proprietary AI or ML systems are disclosed.

The revenue model is a hybrid of state appropriations, federal financial aid, corporate and foundation grants (notably Citizens Financial Group's $5 million workforce commitment and multi-year Cummings Foundation support for Project Access), and minimal residual tuition after MassEducate/MassReconnect waivers. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the campus website and community outreach, supplemented by channel partnerships with Boston Public Schools and corporate employers. RCC's competitive positioning rests on tuition-free access for Massachusetts residents, deep transfer pathways, and differentiated basic-needs support infrastructure targeting basic-needs-insecure and multilingual learner populations.

Name

Roxbury Community College

Legal name

Roxbury Community College

Website

https://rcc.mass.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Roxbury Community College is a public community college in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts, delivering two-year associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training to Greater Boston residents, with tuition waived for qualifying state residents through MassEducate/MassReconnect and integrated student support via Project Access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (611210), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Urban/Metropolitan Community Colleges (EDAHADAL)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce development training
• Transfer pathway programs
• Continuing education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Roxbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding and Government Appropriations: As a public community college in Massachusetts, RCC receives state funding through the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and federal funding to support operations and student programs.
2. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition and mandatory fees, though significantly subsidized for qualifying Massachusetts residents through MassEducate and MassReconnect programs.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: RCC receives workforce development funding from financial partners such as Citizens Financial Group ($5M commitment) and Cummings Foundation (multi-year Project Access commitment).
4. Scholarships and Financial Aid Administration: The college distributes scholarships funded by the RCC Foundation, public and private donors, including merit-based scholarships up to $3,500 and need-based foundation scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Roxbury Community College is a public two-year community college in Massachusetts offering Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree programs, certificate programs, and workforce development training. It provides affordable higher education with free tuition through state programs, transfer pathways to four-year institutions, and holistic student support services through its signature Project Access initiative.

Product overview

Roxbury Community College offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services centered on its core academic degree programs (Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Certificate Programs), supplemented by specialized workforce development and continuing education offerings. The institution provides integrated student support through its Project Access program, which includes The Rox Box food pantry, financial literacy resources, and benefit screening services. Financial access is facilitated through MassEducate/MassReconnect free tuition programs and the Boston Bridge transfer pathway. The College's transfer services leverage the Massachusetts MassTransfer system for seamless bachelor's degree completion at state universities. Specialized programs include the Center for Smart Building Technology and various healthcare career certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate in Arts Programs Two-year liberal arts degree programs designed for students planning to transfer to four-year institutions, including pathways in humanities, social sciences, and general studies.
• Associate in Science Programs Two-year science and applied science degree programs preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions or entry into technical careers, including STEM, nursing, and health sciences.
• Certificate Programs Short-term career-focused certificate programs designed to provide students with specific job-ready skills for entry into the workforce.
• Center for Smart Building Technology Specialized workforce training center offering programs in smart building technology, including skills for modern building systems, energy management, and emerging construction technologies.
• Workforce Development Programs Skills-based training programs designed in partnership with local employers to address regional workforce needs and prepare students for in-demand careers.
• Project Access Holistic student support program addressing basic needs insecurity (housing, food, childcare, transportation) and providing case management to help students persist and complete their education.
• Boston Bridge Program Transfer pathway program helping students transition from community college to four-year institutions through structured advising and articulation agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of students recommend RCC
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Education Design LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Education Design Lab launched an AI + Durable Skills Work-Based Learning Design Challenge initiative with support from Google.org. RCC is one of four community colleges participating, receiving $10,000 implementation grant and access to Riipen's work-based learning platform, with pilot programs launching January 2027 to build AI fluency for students.
• RiipencoreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2026Riipen provides work-based learning platform for the AI + Durable Skills Work-Based Learning Design Challenge. Students gain access to AI literacy skills training and durable skills development through employer-connected learning experiences.
• Food For FreesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood For Free partners with RCC's Office of Student Life for the Heat-N-Eats Meal Program, providing frozen meals for students in need. The program offers free frozen meals containing protein, starch, and vegetables for on or off-campus dining.
• Boston Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCC and Boston Public Schools earned State Early College Designation for Multilingual Learners, allowing high school students to earn college credits while still in high school and facilitating smoother transitions to higher education.
• MassTransfer (MA State University and UMass System)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassTransfer is a collaboration between Massachusetts community colleges, state universities, and UMass system enabling seamless transfer. RCC participates in General Education Foundation and A2B Mapped Pathways saving students average 28% on bachelor's degree.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northern Essex Community College: Massachusetts public community college serving the Merrimack Valley with associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training. Comparable scale and mission to RCC, with similar free-tuition eligibility under MassEducate.
• Holyoke Community College: Western Massachusetts public community college with similar associate degree programs, MassTransfer participation, and workforce development focus. Comparable size and operating model.
• Massachusetts Bay Community College: MetroWest Boston public community college offering associate degrees, certificates, and MassTransfer pathways. Comparable to RCC on mission, funding model, and program portfolio, serving a similar commuter student base.
• Quinsigamond Community College: Central Massachusetts public community college in Worcester offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs. Direct peer within the Massachusetts community college system.
• Bristol Community College: Public community college in southeastern Massachusetts with similar associate degree, transfer, and workforce development offerings. Direct peer in funding model, accreditation, and program structure.
• Bunker Hill Community College: Massachusetts public community college in Boston with associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce development. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping Boston-area market, similar program mix, and identical MassEducate/MassTransfer ecosystem.
• Mount Wachusett Community College: North-central Massachusetts public community college with associate degrees, workforce training, and transfer pathways. Comparable institution to RCC within the state community college network.
• Springfield Technical Community College: Massachusetts public community college with technical and health sciences programs alongside transfer pathways. Comparable urban-serving mission and program mix.
• Cape Cod Community College: Massachusetts public community college in West Barnstable offering associate degrees and workforce development. Comparable institution within the same state system and funding model.

Regional players

• Community College of Rhode Island: Largest public community college in New England, serving a similar New England urban commuter population with associate degrees and workforce training. Regional peer offering comparable products but in a different state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SeeRCC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RoxCommCollege/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/RoxburyCommunityCollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-essex-community-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/seeroxburycc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roxbury Community College