P.O. Box 7380
Paducah, KY 42002

Beginning as West Kentucky Industrial College, Paducah community college (PCC) has a long history of providing willing students with a solid technical education. Today the school serves a wide breadth of students, offering everything from dual credit programs for high school students to distance education programs to credit and non-credit based training programs for business leaders. Currently offering certificate and associate degrees in a wide range of practical subjects -- think everything from Broadcast Captioning to Fire and Rescue Science -- Paducah is an excellent springboard to further education or your career.

For those with a knack for engineering who have the drive to continue their education after Paducah, PCC offers a joint partnership with the University of Kentucky and Murray State University. And, since Paducah serves as home to the University of Kentucky Engineering Extended Campus, students interested in earning their bachelor's degree in either Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering from UK can do so without ever leaving campus.

In addition to on-campus degree programs, Paducah Community College is also home to one of the few Challenger Learning Centers in the country. Designed for ages nine and over, Challenger provides team-building "missions" for both local schools and the general public. Teams that sign on play the part of astronauts and must work together to launch Martian probes, examine extraterrestrial rocks, and solve emergency situations.

In addition to offering an array of courses and programs, Paducah's Workplace Skills Center also provides students with low-cost and in some cases free workforce readiness services including free GED preparation classes, computer literacy courses, basic skills training for adults, and interview preparation workshops. All students have access to free on-campus career counseling as well as academic advising. The college's Center for Opportunity also provides on-campus computers to those who may not have internet access from home.

Quick Facts:

Paducah Community College was originally founded in 1918 as a state-supported junior college that catered to the needs of African-Americans based in Kentucky.

Paducah Community College is one of just a handful of colleges across the country to offer a certificate in quilting.

Since September of 2002, the Paducah Community College's Challenger Learning Center has flown more than 1,200 missions and has expanded significantly, adding summer camps, e-missions, and professional development training for teachers.

Paducah Community College has five engineering-related student organizations. Dually enrolled UK/Paducah students have participated in projects in conjunction with NASA and Habitat for Humanity.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.