Merced College

What Merced College does

Merced College is a public community college operated by the Merced Community College District (MCCD) under the California Community Colleges system, serving Merced County in California's Central Valley since 1967. The institution delivers 130+ associate degree majors and certificate programs across seven schools, serving a student body that is 52% first-generation, with over 2,300 students earning 4,087 degrees and certificates in Spring 2026, the largest graduating class in its history. Core product lines span Merced College Online (accelerated online degrees via Canvas LMS), Career & Technical Education with 30+ fast-track certificates, the State Fire Training-accredited Fire Technology program, the AgTEC agricultural innovation hub, and Community Education noncredit classes; wraparound services include the Basic Needs Center, equity programs, TimelyCare telehealth, and the upcoming Promise Housing 488-bed facility (move-in January 2027) developed jointly with UC Merced.

The underlying technology stack is commodity third-party: Canvas LMS for online and hybrid course delivery, Ellucian Cloud MC Portal as the student information system, CCCApply for admissions, Microsoft 365 for productivity, Zoom for virtual counseling, and Respondus LockDown Browser for exam proctoring. The college differentiates on physical infrastructure and ecosystem partnerships rather than proprietary technology, including the AgTEC Center (linked to the UC Merced Experimental Smart Farm), the Hawk Regional Training Center for fire service, and the 16-week calendar adopted in Fall 2025 to align with UC and CSU formats.

Merced College's business model is a public-sector funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. The primary funding stream is California state apportionment for credit-bearing programs based on enrollment and completion metrics, supplemented by student fees (parking, transportation enabling free bus ridership), self-supporting noncredit Community Education enrollment fees, federal and state grants (including $1.5M HUD Community Project Funding and $28.6M in state agricultural technology investment), and charitable gifts through the Merced College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1973. Pricing for in-state credit students is set by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office; $31M in financial aid is awarded annually. Customer segments span traditional college students, K-12 dual enrollees, public safety and health sciences trainees, agriculture and industrial technology students, adult and continuing education learners, and underserved/special populations (veterans, foster youth, system-impacted students through Rising Scholars).

Name

Merced College

Legal name

Merced Community College District

Website

https://mccd.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Merced College is a public California community college serving Merced County since 1967, offering 130+ associate degree and certificate programs across two campuses plus the AgTEC agricultural innovation hub, a State Fire Training-accredited fire academy, and 2026's largest-ever graduating class of 2,300+ students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), 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

Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical education
• Workforce development training
• Online higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Merced

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, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. State Apportionment (Credit Programs): California Community College state apportionment funding for credit-bearing associate degree and certificate programs based on enrollment and completion metrics.
2. Community Education (Noncredit): Self-supporting, fee-funded community education classes operating without state or federal funding. Enrollment fees cover program costs and office support.
3. Student Fees: Fees charged for enrollment including transportation fees (enabling free bus ridership), parking permits ($30/semester, $15 summer), and other campus fees.
4. Federal and State Grants: External grant funding including federal Community Project Funding (e.g., $1.5M HUD funding for fire training facility expansion) and state investments in regional economic development.
5. Donations and Foundation Gifts: Merced College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1973, accepts charitable gifts to support educational programs. Tax ID: 23-7385578.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Merced College is a public community college delivering associate degrees, certificates, transfer preparation, and career-technical education across 130+ programs through in-person, online, and hybrid modalities. The college operates two main campuses (Merced and Los Banos), the Business Resource Center for workforce training, and specialized hubs including the AgTEC Center for agricultural technology and the Hawk Regional Training Center for fire service training with State Fire Training accreditation recognized in all 50 states.

Product overview

Merced College is a community college in California's Central Valley offering over 130 degree and certificate programs across eight schools. The institution operates a multi-product portfolio including its primary online learning platform (Merced College Online), Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs with 30+ fast-track certificates, the State Fire Training-accredited Fire Technology program at the Hawk Regional Training Center, and the AgTEC agricultural innovation hub. Additional offerings include Community Education non-credit classes, the Program Pathways Mapper for academic planning, and the Basic Needs Center for student support services. The college recently launched Promise Housing, a 488-bed student residence on UC Merced's campus. Programs span agriculture, health sciences, business, industrial technology, fine arts, and public safety, with partnerships enabling agtech innovation labs and workforce development initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Merced College Online Accelerated, fully online degree program designed for working adults and returning students with flexible course delivery through Canvas LMS.
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) Fast-track certificate and job training programs offering over 30 programs in one, two, or three semesters across fields including agriculture, automotive, business, health sciences, and trades.
• Fire Technology Program Fire academy with State Fire Training accreditation (ARTP) preparing students for firefighter careers with certification recognized in all 50 states.
• AgTEC Center Agricultural technology and innovation hub at Merced College supporting the Central Valley's agricultural industry with workforce training and partnerships with John Deere and Western Growers Association.
• Nursing and Health Sciences Programs including Nursing, Radiologic Technology, and Sonography preparing students for healthcare careers in the Central Valley region.
• Digital Arts Digital arts program covering design, multimedia, and emerging technologies in creative fields.
• Community Education Self-supporting non-credit classes for all ages including personal enrichment, professional development, and the College for Kids summer program. Enrollment fees cover program costs.
• College for Kids Summer enrichment program celebrating 50 years, designed for children ages 8 and up to stimulate curiosity and explore new subjects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70% of student athletes matriculate to four-year colleges
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Merced Fire DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Merced College is coordinating with the Merced Fire Department to finalize plans for the Hawk Regional Training Center Phase II expansion. Fire Chief Casey Wilson emphasized the partnership's importance for public safety workforce development throughout the region.
• UC Merced (Promise Housing)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026UC Merced and Merced College jointly developed the 'Promise' Intersegmental Affordable Student Housing Building on UC Merced's campus, providing 488 beds for transfer students. Scheduled for completion in late 2026 with move-in starting January 2027. Includes a dedicated Transfer Student Resource Center.
• UC Merced Experimental Smart FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Merced College partners with UC Merced on the Experimental Smart Farm, which was toured by international agricultural industry leaders during the World AgriTech Summit. The farm serves as a key component of the Central Valley's agricultural innovation ecosystem and provides hands-on training opportunities for Merced College agricultural students.
• World AgriTech Summit / California GO BizcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026The World AgriTech Summit organized a field trip to Merced College's AgTEC Center, bringing 17 agricultural industry leaders from 5 countries to tour local farms, the UC Merced Experimental Smart Farm, and the AgTEC Center. Facilitated by California's GO Biz business development department to promote the Central Valley as an agricultural innovation hub.
• Reservoir FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Merced College partnered with Reservoir Farms, Western Growers Association, John Deere, UC ANR, and Hartnell College to develop a Salinas-based agtech 'Living Lab' with 24 acres of commercial test fields and innovation barns. Merced College is a development partner. Plans for a Central Valley expansion location in Merced, California are underway.
• Western Growers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Western Growers Association partnered with Merced College as a key development partner for the Reservoir Farms Living Lab in Salinas and future Central Valley expansion, supporting agricultural robotics startups and workforce development.
• John DeerecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026John Deere partnered with Merced College as a development partner for the Reservoir Farms Living Lab, contributing to agricultural robotics innovation and providing technology access for the 2026 cohort of 12 startups focused on labor, cost, and sustainability pressures in agriculture.
• UC ANR (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026UC ANR partnered with Merced College on the Reservoir Farms Living Lab and is a lead organization in California's $28.6M agricultural technology initiative investment. Supports research-to-practice pathways for agricultural technology development.
• Hartnell CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Hartnell College partnered with Merced College as a co-development partner on the Reservoir Farms Living Lab project, working together with other community colleges to advance agricultural technology workforce development.
• UC ANR and Merced County (State Economic Development Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2025California's $80M regional economic development investment included $28.6M for agricultural technology initiatives with signed projects led by UC ANR, Merced County, and others. Merced College serves as a key workforce development partner in this initiative supporting sector-specific clusters in aerospace, manufacturing, technology, and water.
• Riggs Ambulance Service / American Medical Response West Inc. (AMR)minorOthersMerced County replaced Riggs Ambulance Service (80-year relationship) with AMR effective January 1. AMR announced plans to offer positions to all eligible incumbent field employees of Riggs. Merced College fire and EMT programs may benefit from this employment pipeline change.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Modesto Junior College: Adjacent California community college in Stanislaus County serving a similar Central Valley demographic with comparable associate degree, CTE, and transfer programs. Closest direct geographic and program-structure peer.
• Fresno City College: California community college in Fresno, comparable in scale, mission, and Central Valley agricultural workforce development focus, with a similar mix of CTE, transfer, and community education programs.
• Reedley College: Central Valley community college in the State Center Community College District with agricultural, CTE, and transfer programs targeting a similar rural, first-generation student population.
• College of the Sequoias: Visalia-based California community college serving Tulare County with comparable agricultural CTE, health sciences, and university transfer offerings in the same Central Valley region.
• San Joaquin Delta College: Stockton-based California community college with comparable scale, CTE portfolio (including fire technology), university transfer focus, and first-generation student support services.
• Hartnell College: Salinas Valley community college and existing partner in the Reservoir Farms Living Lab. Compares directly on agricultural CTE focus and Central Valley agtech workforce development mission.
• Clovis Community College: Fresno-area California community college with a comparable focus on transfer, CTE, and first-generation student support in a similar Central Valley demographic.
• Madera Community College: State Center Community College District institution in Madera County, serving an overlapping Central Valley population with similar associate degree, CTE, and workforce training programs.
• Columbia College (California): Sierra foothills California community college in the Yosemite Community College District, with comparable rural student population, transfer pathways, and CTE offerings.
• West Hills College Coalinga: Central Valley/West Side community college with comparable agricultural CTE focus (including fire technology and industrial trades) and rural, first-generation student demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MercedCollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/mercedcollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/239482282750
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merced-community-college-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/themercedcollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@mercedcollege

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Merced College