What Alpena Community College is like

What it's like

Alpena Community College is a small, quiet college in northern Michigan focused on accessible education and practical skill development. With a 700-acre main campus and a second location at a former air force base, it serves students seeking transferable degrees, vocational training, and pathways to four-year institutions.

Academic feel

ACC emphasizes transferable programs and partnerships with universities, including a 2+2 nursing pathway with Ferris State University and cooperative agreements with seven universities and three community colleges. The college offers associate degrees in arts, general studies, science, and applied science, plus a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Systems Technology. Programs span pre-medicine, psychology, business management, concrete technology, and welding, with instruction in both traditional and applied formats. Classes are available on campus and online across a semester schedule, with options for dual enrollment high school students.

What you should consider

Students planning to transfer to four-year institutions benefit from ACC's articulation agreements and transferable credits. Those entering skilled trades find strong vocational programs, particularly in welding and concrete technology. High school students interested in early college entry have dual enrollment options, and working students can access flexible online course availability.

Strengths

• Welding program with instructors certified by the American Welder Society, taught in a state-of-the-art laboratory with training in both traditional welding and plasma cutting techniques.[1]
• Concrete technology program as one of the original associate degree curricula offered by the Portland Cement Association, providing fundamental understanding of concrete technology.[1]
• Established partnerships with seven universities and three community colleges enabling credit transfer and cooperative programs.[2]

Traditions

• Home to the World Center for Concrete Technology, reflecting the college's historic role in concrete education and research.[1]