American Samoa Community College

What is the history of American Samoa Community College?

American Samoa Community College (ASCC) was established in 1970 to expand access to postsecondary education in American Samoa. Its development as a community college explains its mix of transfer-oriented study, career and technical education, and programs tied to local workforce needs.

ASCC later became American Samoa's land-grant institution, adding agricultural education, research, and community outreach to its responsibilities. The college has also expanded beyond associate degrees and certificates to offer a bachelor's-level teacher education pathway. Those developments make ASCC more than a transfer starting point, although its programs remain focused on undergraduate education.

What are the faculties and departments at American Samoa Community College?

ASCC organizes undergraduate study across liberal arts, career and technical fields, education, and agriculture-related work. Students can pursue associate degrees and certificates, while the college's teacher education pathway provides a bachelor's-level option.

Program areas include business, computer-related study, education, health fields, nursing, science, and trades and technology. The college's land-grant work also connects agriculture and natural-resources education with research and community outreach. Applicants should check the current catalog for the exact credential attached to a major: an associate degree designed for transfer serves a different purpose from an applied credential aimed at employment, and entry to a specialized program may involve requirements beyond general admission.

What is the location of American Samoa Community College?

ASCC's main campus is in Mapusaga on Tutuila, American Samoa's most populous island. Pago Pago is the territory's principal urban center and a useful geographic reference, but it is not the campus's village.

For local students, travel time depends on where they live and available transportation along Tutuila's road network. Pago Pago International Airport is the relevant airport for students arriving from off island. Because ASCC does not operate student housing, applicants relocating to American Samoa should arrange a place to live and a reliable way to reach Mapusaga before enrolling.

What is the mission and vision of American Samoa Community College?

ASCC's stated purpose is to provide accessible postsecondary education that supports student learning, employment preparation, transfer, and service to American Samoa. Its community-college and land-grant roles place local educational and workforce needs alongside agricultural research and outreach.

That mission helps explain why the college offers both academic and applied programs rather than concentrating on a single type of degree. Its institutional priorities should be read as goals, not as guarantees that a particular credential will lead to admission elsewhere or to a specific job. Students comparing programs should examine the curriculum and transfer or licensing requirements for their intended path.