Mineral Area College was founded in April 1965 by popular vote of the residents of six public school districts in St. Francois and Madison counties and portions of Washington and Ste. Genevieve counties. The college became a successor to Flat River Junior College, the third-oldest public junior college in Missouri, established in 1922 as part of the Flat River Public School System. In the last eight decades, at least 10,000 graduates have gone out into the world with the college’s degrees or certificates.

While continuing the operation of the institution it replaced, Mineral Area College has become a comprehensive community college. The academic transfer program almost doubled in size and scope within the first five years of the college’s existence. In 1966, the vocational/technical division was added. The first vocationally-oriented programs were initiated in September 1966, and consisted of secretarial practice, business management and two technology programs. In 1967, a certificate course in practical nursing was introduced; in 1968, an associate’s degree in nursing program was added.

In February 1970, the young institution moved into its new facilities on a 226-acre campus located near U.S. 67 and entered a transitional period of gradual expansion. At present, Mineral Area College offers 35 career and technical education programs and required general education courses which can be applied to almost all academic majors.

In 1985-86, the college completed significant, necessary additions to its facilities: a 350-seat Community Center, a remodeled learning resources center complete with second floor space that increases the facility’s usable area by 3,800 square feet, and the Careers Center which houses vocational programs.

Later additions to the campus included the North College Center, which houses HospiceCare, classrooms, several offices, and four large meeting rooms. The Mineral Area College Student Center houses the Mineral Area College Bookstore, the Wellness Center, and the Athletic Department offices.

In March 1996, residents of the district voted to expand the college Beyond 2000 with the addition of a Telecommunications and Technology Center, a Public Services Center, a Tourism Education and Information Center, and a General Services Building.

The privatized housing complex, College Park, was added in 2000 to offer a unique housing package to students.

In April 2002, voters approved a $6 million bond issue to build an outreach center in Fredericktown, to update and enhance the college’s theatre, Cardinals Nest, faculty offices, Concourse Area and other facets of the Park Hills campus, and to build a new ballpark on the Park Hills campus. The measure also provided for extensive landscaping and construction to the quadrangle, the outdoor mall at the center of campus.