What Dawson Community College does

Dawson Community College (DCC) is a public community college established in 1940 and operating under the Montana University System from its 312-acre main campus in Glendive, Montana, situated between the Yellowstone River and Makoshika State Park. The institution delivers open-access, affordable two-year higher education with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a combined full- and part-time staff and faculty base of approximately 70+. Academic offerings include Associate of Arts and Associate of Science transfer degrees, Associate of Applied Science career and technical degrees, and 15 certificate and career programs spanning Welding Technology, Corrosion Technology, Criminal Justice, Business Management, Early Childhood Education, Animal Science, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Rural Organization Employee Management, and Full Stack Web Development (Dawson Software School).

DCC operates through four primary revenue streams: tuition and mandatory fees for credit courses, athletic programs (basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, cross country, and rodeo at NJCAA levels), facility rentals (Toepke Center and dormitories), and continuing education and workforce development. The core technology stack comprises the Canvas LMS for online and hybrid instruction, EdReady for placement testing, and the Banner student information system, all centralized through Montana University System infrastructure. Pricing is tiered: Early Start courses on campus at half tuition, concurrent courses at Montana high schools at no cost, and standard tuition for degree-seeking students, with over 50 scholarship opportunities and a March 1 financial aid priority deadline.

The go-to-market motion is hybrid: community-led engagement through Buccaneer Days campus visits, virtual tours, and athletic recruitment, combined with direct-to-consumer dual enrollment pipelines into Montana high schools. DCC holds a designated Level 2 partnership role in the OPI Special Education Para Pathways Project launched February 2025, positioning the college as Montana's credentialing institution for paraeducators seeking teaching certification. The college also operates Student PREP Days for incoming freshmen and transfer students, residence life housing, and outreach programs including Buccaneer Adventures and Continuing Education, serving recent high school graduates, current high school students, working paraeducators, and student-athletes primarily in eastern Montana.

Name

Dawson Community College

Legal name

Dawson Community College

Website

https://dawson.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dawson Community College is a public two-year community college in Glendive, Montana, founded in 1940, offering Associate degrees, 15 career and technical programs, dual enrollment, and the OPI Para Pathways credentialing program to recent high school graduates, current high school students, paraeducators, and student-athletes across the Montana University System.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical training
• Dual enrollment programs
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Glendive

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition and mandatory fees for credit courses. Financial aid, grants, and scholarships are available to offset costs for eligible students.
2. Athletic Programs: Intercollegiate athletics including basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, cross country, and rodeo generate some revenue through student fees and athletic scholarships.
3. Facility Rental: Revenue from renting campus facilities including the Toepke Center, dormitories, and other spaces to external parties.
4. Continuing Education: Workforce development and continuing education programs including the Para Pathways Project partnership with OPI provide professional development courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dawson Community College is a public two-year community college that delivers affordable open-access higher education through Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees, alongside 15 career and technical certificate programs in fields such as Welding, Corrosion Technology, Criminal Justice, Business Management, and Full Stack Web Development. The college supplements classroom instruction with dual enrollment for high school students, online learning, continuing education, workforce development, and the MT Parapathways special education teacher certification program operated in partnership with Montana OPI.

Product overview

Dawson Community College offers a comprehensive educational portfolio centered on affordable open-access higher education. The institution provides a unified platform combining academic degree programs (Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees) with fifteen career and technical programs including Welding Technology, Corrosion Technology, Criminal Justice, Business Management, Early Childhood Education, Animal Science, Chemical Dependency Counseling, Rural Organization Employee Management, and Full Stack Web Development (Dawson Software School). Beyond degree programs, the college offers student services including Dual Enrollment for high school students, Credit for Prior Learning, EdReady placement testing, Online Learning, Student PREP Days for orientation, and Residence Life housing. The institution also operates the MT Parapathways Project for special education paraeducator certification, the Toepke Center campus recreation facility, Buccaneer Adventures outreach programming, Continuing Education, and Workforce Development services. Intercollegiate athletics include basketball (men's and women's), baseball, cross country, rodeo, softball, and volleyball. The college first offered classes in 1940 and serves Eastern Montana from its Glendive campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Buccaneers: Athletic teams and mascot name for Dawson Community College intercollegiate sports programs
• MT ParaPathways

Products and services

• Associate of Arts Degree Two-year transferable degree preparing students for transition and success in four-year university programs. Offered to recent high school graduates and continuing learners.
• Associate of Science Degree Two-year science-focused transferable degree preparing students for transition to four-year STEM and related programs.
• Associate of Applied Science Degree Career and technical degree preparing students for vocational and technical career entry, transition, and advancement.
• Welding Technology Program Career and technical program preparing students for immediate employment in welding trades.
• Corrosion Technology Program Career and technical program focused on corrosion prevention and control technologies.
• Criminal Justice Program Associate degree program preparing students for careers in law enforcement and criminal justice fields.
• Business Management Program Associate degree program providing foundational business and management skills for various industries.
• Early Childhood Education Program Associate degree program preparing students for careers working with young children.
• Animal Science Program Associate degree program focused on animal agriculture and livestock management.
• Chemical Dependency Counseling Program Associate degree program training students to become addiction counselors.
• Dawson Software School - Full Stack Web Development Technical skills certificate program in full stack web development for immediate employment preparation.
• Rural Organization Employee Management Program Certificate and degree program for managing employees in rural agricultural organizations.
• Dual Enrollment Program allowing Montana high school students to earn college credit at reduced or no cost, including concurrent courses taught at high schools (free) and early start courses on campus (half tuition).
• MT Parapathways Program Special Education Para Pathways Project providing paraeducators a multi-level pathway to certification as Special Education Technicians and eventually fully licensed teachers. Delivered through OPI partnership with Level 1 modules, Level 2 college courses at DCC, and Level 3 degree completion; eligible paraeducators receive free tuition through OPI for completing the 13-credit Special Education Technician program.
• Continuing Education Non-credit courses and programs for adult learners seeking professional development or personal enrichment.
• Workforce Development Programs designed to meet professional and workforce training needs of the eastern Montana region.
• Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Varsity athletic programs including men's and women's basketball, baseball, cross country, rodeo, softball, volleyball, and track and field competing at NJCAA Division I and II levels with athletic scholarships.
• Facility Rental Services Rental of campus facilities including the Toepke Center, dormitories, and other spaces to external parties.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Big Sky GamesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 June 2026DCC sponsors the Montana 100m event at the Big Sky Games, an Olympic-style amateur sports festival. This partnership promotes the college while supporting Montana athletics and community engagement.
• Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025DCC is the Level 2 partner in the OPI Special Education Para Pathways Project, launched February 2025. The project addresses rural Montana's critical shortage of special education teachers by providing paraeducators a pathway to certification. DCC offers specialized coursework, mentorship, and hands-on training. Eligible paraeducators receive free tuition through OPI for completing the 13-credit Special Education Technician program.
• Montana Campus CompactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTCC supports civic engagement programs at Montana colleges. The Montana Athletes in Service Award recognizes student-athletes for community service contributions.
• Montana University SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCC is part of the Montana University System, sharing benefits including the MUS Choices benefits package for employees, wellness programs, retirement systems (PERS and TRS), and centralized technology infrastructure including Banner student information system and Canvas LMS.
• Canvas (Instructure)coreTechnology or IntegrationDCC uses Canvas as its official Learning Management System for online and hybrid courses, enabling students to access coursework, submit assignments, and engage with instructors digitally.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of MontanaminorOthersBCBS Montana provides medical and vision hardware insurance as part of the Montana University System employee benefits package for DCC staff.
• Delta DentalminorOthersDelta Dental provides dental insurance as part of the Montana University System employee benefits package for DCC staff.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Highlands College of Montana Tech: Montana University System two-year college in Butte offering associate degrees and technical certificates. Direct peer in the MUS two-year network with overlapping transfer, technical, and workforce development portfolios.
• Helena College University of Montana: Two-year MUS institution in Helena offering associate degrees, certificates, and dual enrollment. Comparable in mission, program structure, and reliance on MUS-shared infrastructure (Canvas, Banner).
• Great Falls College Montana State University: Two-year MUS college in Great Falls offering AA/AS/AAS degrees and career-technical programs. Direct peer in scale, program breadth, and target student segments.
• Miles Community College: Public two-year community college in Miles City, Montana, also part of the Montana University System. Closest peer to Dawson by geography, size, program mix (AA/AS/AAS), and dual-enrollment strategy serving rural Eastern Montana.
• Gallatin College Montana State University: Two-year MUS college in Bozeman offering associate degrees and technical certificates. Peer in dual-enrollment, online delivery via Canvas, and workforce credentialing models.
• Bitterroot College University of Montana: Two-year MUS-affiliated college in Hamilton, Montana, offering associate degrees and workforce training. Comparable rural-serving MUS two-year institution with similar enrollment dynamics.

Regional players

• Aaniiih Nakoda College: Tribal college on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana offering associate degrees and workforce programs. Comparable as a small rural-serving Montana two-year institution addressing similar regional higher-education access needs.
• Chief Dull Knife College: Tribal college on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana offering associate degrees and community-based education. Comparable as a small Montana two-year institution serving rural populations, though operates under TCU rather than MUS framework.
• Fort Peck Community College: Tribal community college on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana offering associate degrees and certificate programs. Closely comparable to Dawson by rural northeastern Montana geography and small-scale two-year mission.
• Eastern Wyoming College: Public two-year community college in Torrington, Wyoming, serving a rural agricultural region. Comparable in mission, scale, rural-residential profile, and reliance on athletics/NJCAA as an enrollment driver.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DCCBuccaneers
• Facebookfacebook.com/256599357684463
• Instagraminstagram.com/dawsonbuccaneers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dawson-community-college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Dawson Community College