Campus History


FCC in 1960

Join us as we celebrate our 50th anniversary of serving thousands of students over the years. Starting this fall, we pause to honor the past and imagine the future with a series of planned events including a grand celebration Sept. 8, 2007, a collection of reminisces and musings from former students and faculty titled Community Voices, and a Campus Community Day on April 26, `08. In addition, other events include a golf tournament, 5K run, and other activity tie-ins to the 50th. In its 50-year history, Frederick Community College has grown from 77 students to more than 17,000 students registered this past year in the academic and continuing education/customized training divisions. Started in 1957 as an evening school, FCC moved from Frederick High School to a facility on North Market Street, and finally, in 1970, to its permanent home on Opossumtown Pike. The mission of the college is a comprehensive one that meets a diversity of human and community needs, while maintaining high-quality educational programs at affordable costs.

FCC awards associate in arts, associate of arts in teaching, associate in applied science and associate in science degrees and certificates of accomplishment in more than 50 fields of study. Many students select transfer programs that allow them to continue on to a four-year college for a baccalaureate degree. The college offers an array of career-oriented programs that prepare students for immediate employment after graduation. The continuing education/customized training division offers noncredit courses in business, computers, real estate, and general interest, as well as contract training for business and industry. The average age of FCC students is 26; about 64 percent attend part time, and 60 percent plan to transfer to four-year colleges. The college understands the special scheduling and counseling needs of the adult part-time student and offers convenient evening and weekend classes, as well as online courses.

FCC in 1960
FCC 2007

Choose from more than 70 academic and continuing education programs. The campus has been on Opossumtown Pike since 1970 and now has 10 buildings.

Did you know?

  • 1 out of 10 Frederick County residents over age 16 attend FCC
  • 2 out of 3 Frederick County undergraduates who attend Maryland public colleges and universities attend FCC
  • The grade point averages of our transfer students are higher than the state average
  • FCC's retention rate is first among Maryland community colleges
  • We've had 100 percent pass rates on state licensure exams for graduates of the nursing and respiratory care programs.