Following World War II and fueled by the GI Bill and helping soldiers transfer meaningfully back into civilian life, New Hampshire lawmakers established the State Trade School at Manchester in 1945. Its original mission was to meet immediate demand for higher education and skill development for those returning Veterans. Manchester Community College has proudly operated without interruption since that time, preserving its mission while expanding and evolving to meet the changing needs of the region’s workforce. This year, Manchester Community College celebrates its 80th anniversary, making it one of the oldest community colleges in New England. (Our sister college, Great Bay Community College will also turn 80 this year.)
MCC was founded “to provide trade and vocational training and retraining for the occupational adjustment of youths and adults.” Times have changed; the world is a very different place than it was in 1945. But the relevant contributions of community colleges like MCC still provide valuable workforce training to support the economic growth of our state.
I hope we have exceeded even the brightest expectations among those who initially created community colleges. Both schools were given $75,000 of seed money to equip and open their facilities. Manchester, which will observe its anniversary with a special celebration event on November 12 at its West Manchester site, began in the Cohas Building at 252 Willow Street, owned by the International Shoe Company. Growth was fast and immediate. Within two years, after the sale of the building, the State Trade School at Manchester moved to the Webster Street School. Additional funds from the state did not fully fund renovations, so true to its mission of hands-on skill building, some of the work was completed by the students themselves. The academic programs at the time included automotive, welding, drafting, electrical, refrigeration and sign painting. Clifton H. Dustin served as the first principal for nearly 15 years. In 1966, the school moved to its new building and current location at 1066 Front Street.
Eight decades and many thousands of graduates since its founding, Manchester Community College has maintained key elements of its initial mission. MCC is now one of seven community colleges in the state, part of the Community College System of NH. We still offer programs in welding, automotive, HVAC, and electrical technology. But as times changed, our offerings evolved to meet new demand. MCC offers 50 other Associate degree, certificate, and short-term professional programs that support local industry including: business, graphic design, cybersecurity, liberal arts, nursing, automated manufacturing, the social and behavioral sciences, biology, robotics, mathematics, electrical lineworker, exercise science, early childhood education, programming, extended reality, and power sports equipment. Our graduates are everywhere, contributing to the economy and to the community.
And who is served? 4,000 students annually. Students from 15 to nearly 70. Veterans. New Hampshire business and industry. Families for whom college-going was not the norm. Students in high school. Job Corps students. Honors students. Those with learning challenges. Local hospitals and healthcare centers. Early childhood centers. Baccalaureate colleges to which students transfer. The City of Manchester, Hillsborough County, southern New Hampshire, western Maine, and northern Massachusetts. Online, evening, and weekend students.
How do we serve? Tirelessly within our community. We thrive on the strong support of our Governor and state lawmakers, of the Mayor and local officials, and our delegation in Washington. Our success is built on the expertise of an amazing faculty and caring staff, our Board of Trustees, an Advisory Board, and business professionals who give their time, talent, and treasure to create relevant excellence.
Recently, a faculty member told me Manchester Community College is in the dream fulfillment business. I agree. The President of Student Government told me last May that at Manchester, Community comes before College. A beautiful sentiment. In the 2025 SmartAsset study of 585 community colleges, Manchester was ranked in the top ten percent nationally and its ranking was the second highest in New England. Manchester Community College is proudly and humbly fulfilling dreams, building community, honoring our past, innovating our future, and serving our community as we have done for eight decades, and we are doing it one student at a time.
Paul M. Beaudin, PhD
President, Manchester Community College
