Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

732 Sawmill Rd, Laurel, MS

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, located in Perkinston, Mississippi, was founded in 1912 and was originally known as Harrison County Agricultural High School. The school first began offering college level courses in 1925 through the support of Harrison, Stone and Jackson Counties. The school was renamed Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College and by 1942 became a full fledged junior college with the assistance of George County.

MGC Community College was again renamed, this time to Perkinston Junior College. By 1962 the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College District was formed, resulting in the consolidation of several campuses and schools into what became known as Mississippi Gulf Coast College in 1987. The school is the first community college to have the United State's president speak at its commencement ceremony, specifically George W. Bush in 2006.

Academics

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offers a large number of programs that allow students to pursue career training and academic transfer opportunities. The variety of options available to students allows them to choose the program that best suits their future goals.

Career training and technical programs provide students the skills and abilities necessary to enter the workforce as professionals in a given field. Students will take a combination of classroom, theoretical and practical courses that allows for the development and application of methods and ideas in controlled settings allowing students to gain experience and training in the real world applications of their knowledge.

Degree and certificate programs will take between one and two years to complete depending on the number of credits taken at a given time.  During this time,  MGC students will earn a degree or certificate that demonstrates competency and allow for the pursuit of employment at the entry level.

Academic transfer programs assist in the completion of a bachelor's degree by allowing students to complete the first two years of a four year education at a MGCCC campus, followed by the transfer of credits to a four year institution for the completion of the final two years.

Students wishing to transfer will have to meet the varying requirements for admission for their desired schools, and as such it is recommended they meet with a counselor to develop a curriculum that best meets the student's desired school or schools transfer criterion.

Programs offered include:

• Criminal Justice
• Medical Assistant
• Interior Design
• Cosmetology
• Practical Nursing

Admissions and Financial Aid

Enrollment at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is made easy through the school's open enrollment policy. This means that any student that meets the minimum requirements for admission, submits a completed application and pays all associated fees may become a student.

Individuals should also submit transcripts and test scores if available, the absence of which may require the student to take a placement exam prior to registration. Students are encouraged to attend new student orientation and make an appointment with a counselor prior to registration to help in the choice of program enrollment and develop a curriculum.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships. Students in need of assistance are required to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will be used by the school's financial aid department to determine aid program eligibility and the financial needs of the student.

Due to recent changes in federal regulations governing the disbursement of aid, students may now be chosen at random to provide additional financial information which will be used to compare to the FAFSA in order to verify its accuracy. All aid must be reapplied for prior to each academic year.