College History

Tulsa Community College has served Tulsa and the surrounding communities since 1970. Since its inception, TCC has established a tradition of offering students a personal approach to higher education, an education that is designed to be practical and useful. When the College first opened its doors in September 1970, initial enrollment was 2,796 students. In the 39 years that the College has served the Greater Tulsa area, TCC has provided quality educational services to more than 450,000 people.

For the ninth consecutive year, TCC is ranked in the top two percent of more than 1,150 community colleges nationally in the number of associate degrees awarded in all disciplines. TCC serves more students in higher education in northeastern Oklahoma than any other public college or university. The College is regularly among the state’s top three institutions in first-time college freshman enrollment.

The largest two-year college in Oklahoma, TCC serves approximately 27,000 students per semester in college credit and continuing education classes. Of the first-time freshmen enrolling in a public college or university within the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education in recent years, sixty-five percent (65%) of the Tulsa County students begin their college education at Tulsa Community College.

TCC has four campuses in operation: the Metro Campus, located in the heart of downtown Tulsa; the Northeast Campus, located at Apache and North Harvard; the Southeast Campus, located at 81st and Highway 169; and the West Campus, at 7505 W. 41st Street. In addition, the Education Outreach Center at 21st and Garnett provides a variety of services to students in that neighborhood.

Tulsa Community College is recognized as the leader in Oklahoma in the offering of distance learning classes, including telecourses, online courses of varying lengths from 1 to 16 weeks, and interactive television. The primary reasons for TCC’s growth are:

• Wide variety of courses
• Qualified and dedicated faculty
• Emphasis on student learning
• Low cost
• Day, evening, and weekend classes
• Located close to home and/or work
• Career guidance and advisement program
• Job placement service
• Comprehensive services for part-time as well as for full-time students

The College provides programs of study for people who are:
• Preparing to transfer to the junior level at a four-year college or university
• Preparing for specific occupational careers
• Retraining or updating in specific career skills
• Seeking continuing education opportunities
• Needing developmental or remedial programs in basic skills

Tulsa Community College programs are designed to prepare students for advanced studies or careers in their chosen fields of interest. For many students, the College remains an ongoing source of continuing education.