MCC is a great value. Our tuition is one of the lowest in the area - about 1/3 that of public four-year schools and a tiny fraction of private colleges. We offer many ways to pay, plus a tuition installment plan to make it even easier to afford college.
Tuition Rates
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. Fees effective Fall 2022:
- Tier 1 disciplines - HVAC, radiologic technology and welding - Tuition plus $50 program fee per course
- Tier 2 disciplines - paramedic, engineering technology, police and fire science, physical therapy assistant and veterinary technology - Tuition plus $100 program fee per course
- Tier 3 disciplines - automotive technology, dental assisting, utility lineman and surgical technology - Tuition plus $150 program fee per course
- Tier 4 disciplines - practical and professional nursing - Tuition plus $400 program fee per course
Refunds
If we cancel a class, you will get a 100% refund. All other refunds are based on the date you officially drop a class. View refund dates. Failure to attend class is not considered an official drop. Unpaid account balances will have the refund credited back to your account.
Change of address
When you change addresses, update your records immediately through the student center, or submit a Statistical Data Change form (PDF) to a records office.
Auditing a class
Auditing lets you review a class without grades or tests. No credit is given and fees are the same as for a credit course. If you wish to audit, you must declare this when you enroll.
Other tuition rates
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High school students who enroll in a course offered at one of the MCC campuses are eligible for the discounted high school tuition rate. The discounted rate is 50% of the regular tuition rate depending on the residency status.
Students are eligible for the discount through the spring term of their senior year or graduation (whichever occurs first) and if they are less than 20 years of age at the start of the term.
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High school students who enroll in a dual credit course offered at their high school are eligible for a discounted tuition rate. The discounted rate is 50% of the regular tuition rate depending on the residency status.
See High School Info/Dual Credit for more information on the dual credit program.
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Many factors are considered when determining residency such as, citizenship status, military status, the public school district to which taxes are paid, length of time at present domicile, purpose for living in Missouri, and your intent to make Missouri your permanent home.
In most cases, you must have been at your in-district or in-state residence for the past 12 consecutive months to receive that residency status.
The following school districts are considered in-district:
Belton, Blue Springs, Center, Fort Osage, Grain Valley, Grandview, Hickman Mills, Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Liberty, North Kansas City, Oak Grove, Park Hill, Raytown.
Residency status is initially determined at the time of application to the college. A request for a change in residency status must be made in writing by submitting a Residency Affidavit (PDF) form along with supporting documentation.
Random and periodic residency verifications will be conducted, which will require those who are selected to complete a Residency Affidavit (PDF) and to submit documentation including proof of residence for the past consecutive 12 months.
Accepted documentation*
- Most recent personal property tax statement (available through your local county assessor's office)
- Proof from assessor's office which includes the above home address and the public school district
- Missouri vehicle registration
- Missouri voter registration card
- Lease
- Sublease
- Certificate of marriage to a resident of Missouri (proof of MO residence required)
- Proof of employment in Missouri (not online employment or employment for a family member)
If your name is not on an official lease or sublease you may submit a signed and notarized statement from your lessor verifying the dates you lived in the domicile, the terms of your agreement and the address and public school district of the domicile.
*Submission of a residency affidavit and documentation does not automatically qualify a student for an approved status change or an approved appeal. A determination must still be made based on the evidence submitted.
If you submit a Residency Affidavit (PDF) and disagree with the determination made for your residency status, you have the right to appeal the decision. Please submit a Residency Determination Appeal form (PDF).
If you live outside of the state of Missouri but paid Missouri income tax last year, you may be eligible for a tuition credit that will reduce your out-of-state tuition costs. See Tuition Credit for Missouri Non-Resident Taxpayers below.
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You pay out-of-district tuition if you live in Missouri but do not pay taxes for one of the school districts listed above. You pay out-of-state tuition if you live outside of Missouri or if your residency is international.
However, if you are a resident of one of the ten participating states, you may be eligible for a reduced tuition rate through the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) program.
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Are you a resident of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio or Wisconsin? If so, you may be able to take advantage of the Midwest Student Exchange Program and save about one-third on tuition. MCC students participating in MSEP are assessed the current out-of-district tuition rate instead of the out-of-state rate.
Participation in the program is limited to 100 students per academic year, so admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participants must be declared on an approved MCC degree or certificate program.
Effective Fall 2020, students receiving the Midwest Student Exchange tuition rate in a previous semester must reapply every academic year. Talk to the contact person at the campus Enrollment Center to establish your MSEP tuition rate, if space in the program is still available.
For more information, check out Midwestern Higher Education Commission.
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Credit for Missouri income tax paid
If you are a non-Missouri resident and you (or your parent/legal guardian) paid Missouri income tax last year, you may be eligible for a non-refundable tuition credit that will reduce your out-of-state tuition costs.
For eligible students, MCC will apply a tuition credit up to the amount of tax paid, but not to exceed the difference between the out-of-state and out-of-district tuition rates.
Out-of-state students already receiving a special tuition rate through the Midwest Student Exchange (MSEP) or KCKCC affiliate programs are not eligible for this credit.
To receive this credit you (student or taxpayer) must complete the Non-Resident Tuition Credit Request (PDF) form and submit the required tax documents to a campus business office. Required documents include: Missouri tax return (MO-1040), Nonresident Income (MO-NRI) Schedule, W-2s, 1099's, and Federal tax form 1040 for the most recent tax year, along with proof of tax payment to Missouri Dept. of Revenue (e.g., cancelled check, credit card or bank statement). If your request is approved, a tuition credit will be applied to your MCC tuition costs for the term requested.
Credit for property tax paid
If you are a non-resident of the MCC district and you (or your parent/legal guardian) paid personal/real estate property taxes in Jackson, Clay, Platte or Cass counties in Missouri last year, you may be eligible for a credit that will reduce your tuition costs.
For eligible students, MCC will apply a tuition credit up to the amount of property taxes paid in the previous year but not to exceed the difference between the student's current tuition rate and the in-district rate.
This credit is limited to the amount of property tax distributed by the county to the MCC district, as shown on the tax receipt.
To receive this credit, you (student or taxpayer) must complete the Non-Resident Tuition Credit Request (PDF) form and submit the required tax documents to a campus business office. Required documents include: Federal tax form 1040 (listing dependent students) and personal property/real estate tax receipt showing proof of payment. If your request is approved, a tuition credit will be applied to your MCC tuition costs for the term requested.
The MCC district is identified on the county property tax statements as:
- Jackson County: Metro Junior College
- Clay County: KCJC Tax
- Platte County: Metropolitan Community Colleges
- Cass County: Metro Jr Coll
Submitting the tuition credit request
Submit the completed Non-Resident Tuition Credit Request (PDF) form and the required tax documents to the Business/Student Services Office at one of the five MCC campuses, by fax, mail, or in person. They will answer your questions, determine your eligibility and apply the credit.
You must contact the business office each term to request that the credit be applied, until the credit is exhausted.
Unused credit cannot be carried forward to the next year (summer/fall/spring terms), and the amount credited is non-refundable. For each new year, a new tuition credit request form must be completed, and tax documents provided.
Example: The tuition credit based on calendar year 2021 taxes will only be applied to tuition for summer 2022, fall 2022, and spring 2023.
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If you're 65 or older and live in district (see above), you can take classes for free using a senior citizen tuition waiver if space is available. This waiver does not cover books, supplies, general fees, lab fees or special fees.
Some courses are not eligible for this waiver, such as physical education courses that include use of the fitness or recreation center.
Reduced rate senior memberships to the centers are available instead. Enrollment is open for those using the senior waiver on designated dates:
- Spring 2023 – The semester begins Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
For more information, visit a student services office or call the MCC Information Center at 816.604.1000. The waiver request form is available at MCC Senior Tuition Waiver Request (PDF).