Tacoma Community College

What is the history of Tacoma Community College?

Tacoma Community College (TCC) was founded in 1965 as a public community college serving the Tacoma area. Its role has expanded from offering a local route into college to providing transfer degrees, career and technical education, workforce training, and selected applied bachelor's degrees.

That mix remains central to understanding TCC today. A student might attend to complete the first two years of a bachelor's degree, train for a health care or technical occupation, or return to school after time in the workforce. TCC also serves students in Gig Harbor, although applicants should check where their particular program and required courses are offered.

What are the faculties and departments at Tacoma Community College?

TCC organizes its academics around transfer studies, professional and technical programs, and applied bachelor's study rather than a set of traditional university faculties. Students can pursue associate degrees and certificates, with selected programs continuing to the bachelor's level.

Transfer-oriented study includes subjects such as business, science, social sciences, and the humanities. Career-focused options include health care, information technology, and business-related fields. TCC's applied bachelor's offerings include fields such as health information management and community health. An associate degree intended for transfer is different from an occupational degree designed primarily for employment; students considering either route should use the current program map to check prerequisites, course sequencing, and where credits are intended to go next.

Some health and technical programs have separate admission processes after a student enters the college. Entry to TCC therefore does not, by itself, secure a place in every major.

What is the location of Tacoma Community College?

TCC's main campus is at 6501 South 19th Street in Tacoma, Washington. The college also has a Gig Harbor campus, so the most convenient location depends on a student's courses and program.

The Tacoma campus is in a developed urban area of Pierce County. For commuters, course location, parking, and transit schedules can matter as much as the distance from home: a program may require classes, labs, or clinical work at more than one site. Pierce Transit serves the Tacoma area, while Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the principal regional airport for longer-distance travel.

What is the mission and vision of Tacoma Community College?

TCC's stated educational purpose centers on accessible learning, student achievement, and service to its community. Its academic mix reflects that purpose through transfer preparation, workforce education, and opportunities for students at different stages of life.

A mission statement describes the college's priorities, not a guaranteed result for every student. Prospective students can assess how those priorities apply to them by looking at the course schedule, support services, transfer pathways, and requirements for their intended program. TCC is a public college, not a religiously affiliated institution.