Mitchell’s History

Mitchell Community College has been educating residents of Iredell County and surrounding communities since it was chartered in 1852 as a Presbyterian college for women. In the early years, faculty of the Concord Presbyterian Female College in downtown Statesville placed heavy emphasis on music and fine arts. This focus continued as the College evolved into Mitchell College in 1917, and when the College became a junior women’s college in 1924. Many of Iredell’s young men found their dreams of a college education slipping away in the Great Depression, and Mitchell College responded by welcoming these men to campus in 1932.

Mitchell continued its evolution and in 1959 became an independent community college operated by the Mitchell College Foundation and recognized by the state. Mitchell Community College became the 57th member institution of the North Carolina Community College System in 1973. By 1983, college administrators saw a demand for classes in Mooresville, and the Mooresville Central High School Gymnasium was acquired and renovated to serve as the Mooresville Center. Today the college has a campus in Mooresville that offers a full range of classes and services.

Mitchell opened one of North Carolina’s first early college (high school) programs in 2004 and added a second in 2008.Today’s Mitchell is preparing motivated high school students to excel by allowing them to earn college credit tuition-free through the Career and College Promise program and three early college high schools.

Through the years, Mitchell leaders have regularly revamped the College and its programs to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Today’s focus is on offering programs that will lead to job creation and employment opportunities, and the College boasts a million-dollar advanced manufacturing center. Mitchell is known locally as the place to earn an associate degree, diploma, or certificate. It’s also the place to find a range of short-term career training options.