Research.com
Alpena Community College logo

Alpena Community College

#1721 in US ranking Alpena, MI
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

Represent this school?

Update this profile on Research.com

Cost

Cost / year
$14,139
Tuition & fees
$8,250
Avg. aid
$7,149
Receiving aid
86%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
52%
Median salary
$46,457
1 yr after graduation

What is the history of Alpena Community College?

Alpena Community College (ACC) is a public community college founded in 1952 in Alpena, Michigan. Its development reflects a regional purpose: offering education close to home for students pursuing transfer credits, career training, and other postsecondary credentials.

ACC now serves students through its Alpena campus and a campus in Oscoda. Its academic offerings extend from associate degrees and certificates to a bachelor's degree in electrical systems technology. That range matters when comparing it with other community colleges: students should check the credential and campus associated with a particular program rather than assume every pathway ends with an associate degree.

What are the faculties and departments at Alpena Community College?

ACC organizes its teaching around academic and career programs rather than a large university-style system of colleges and professional schools. Students can pursue transfer-oriented coursework as well as programs connected to fields such as nursing, business, criminal justice, manufacturing, and energy technology.

Credential options include certificates, associate degrees, and a bachelor's degree in electrical systems technology. A student planning to transfer should distinguish an associate degree designed around transfer from a career-focused credential: courses that satisfy ACC requirements do not necessarily satisfy a future university's major requirements. The current academic catalog is the appropriate place to check a program's required courses, campus, delivery format, and admission conditions.

What is the location of Alpena Community College?

ACC's main campus is in Alpena, a small city in northeastern Michigan on Lake Huron. The college also has a campus in Oscoda, so the practical commute depends on where a student's particular classes and services are offered.

The college primarily serves a regional population, and most students commute. Prospective students should account for travel time, winter driving conditions, and the possibility that required courses or clinical experiences take place away from their usual campus. Alpena County Regional Airport serves the area, but a car may be more useful for routine travel between home, classes, and work.

What is the mission and vision of Alpena Community College?

ACC's educational purpose centers on accessible postsecondary learning for its region, including transfer education, workforce preparation, and continuing education. Those priorities describe what the college sets out to offer; they are not, by themselves, measures of student outcomes.

For a prospective student, the mission is most useful as a guide to the college's mix of programs. Someone seeking a university transfer route, a shorter occupational credential, or an applied bachelor's degree should compare the relevant curriculum and support services rather than assume the same pathway suits all three goals. ACC is a public institution, not a religiously affiliated college.

Alpena Community College Profile - Basic Information

Name of the institution

Alpena Community College

Level of institution

Four or more years

Control of institution

Public

Setting type

Town: Remote

Institutional Category

Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or above

Institution size category

1,000 - 4,999

School type

Four-year college

Main student body

Coeducational

Calendar system

Semesters

Foundation year

1952

Alpena Community College Accreditation

Alpena Community College is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.

Alpena Community College Programs and Degrees

iconCertificate of less than 1 year
iconCertificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
iconAssociate's degree
iconBachelor's degree

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.