Press Releases News

This April, Maricopa Community Colleges joins institutions nationwide to celebrate Community College Month. Observed annually, this year’s theme, “The Smartest First Step. The Strongest Next Step,” reinforces the 10-college system’s role in providing Arizonans with an accessible, affordable, high-quality education that leads to successful, high-wage careers.

Every college journey starts somewhere, and for more than 140,000 learners, it begins at one of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges. Keeping pace with national trends, the system’s enrollment continues to climb, with the Spring 2026 semester experiencing a 4% year-over-year increase. As public sentiment toward community colleges rises, the system’s continued commitment to affordability, early college offerings, and direct connection to industry is drawing students in.

GateWay Community College recently welcomed students from Universidad de Guanajuato and Universidad de Sonora for a weeklong educational exchange in Arizona focused on water sustainability, environmental science, and workforce development.

GateWay Community College announced the launch of a new suite of online Cannabis Career Certificate programs, developed in partnership with Green Flower, the leader in cannabis education.

Maricopa Community Colleges has reached a significant milestone in its bachelor’s degree programs, with the number of students admitted increasing nearly 15 percent year-over-year. The system anticipates surpassing 10,000 enrolled students this year across its 11 affordable bachelor’s degree programs as it advances a multi-year expansion of baccalaureate offerings.

On October 31, GateWay Community College had the honor of hosting international delegates participating in the Advancing U.S.–Philippine Relations for American Semiconductor Supply Chains project.

North America’s largest microelectronics exhibition, SEMICON West, is being held in Phoenix, Arizona for the first time in its 50-year history. From today to Thursday, October 7–9, the Phoenix Convention Center will host what is expected to be the largest SEMICON West in two decades, with over 1,500 booths, 860 exhibiting companies, and an estimated 33% more attendees than last year.

GateWay Community College is proud to announce its selection as a Top Community College for the 2025-2026 academic year by Education Insider, a magazine covering a comprehensive variety of K-12 through higher education topics for educators, parents, students, and policymakers.

GateWay Community College is opening its doors to the public on Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 3 to 6 p.m. for an HVAC Open House at its Washington Campus. The event is designed to connect students and community members with training and career opportunities in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry — a field that continues to see high demand across Arizona and beyond.

As National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Week begins on Monday, September 8, the observance highlights ongoing work to expand access to affordable, high-quality education. With nine of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges currently designated as HSIs, the system remains committed to expanding accessible pathways to college and preparing students for high-opportunity professions throughout Arizona.

Today, GateWay Community College joins the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s expanded Unlocking Opportunity network—an initiative designed to help community colleges reform programs in ways that improve student outcomes—ensuring students earn degrees that lead to good-paying jobs.

Arizona PBS invites the community to attend a Career Resource Fair & Film Screening on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center, located at 1375 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85040. Sponsored by GateWay Community College, this free event will connect attendees with valuable career advancement resources and offer an exclusive look at upcoming Arizona PBS workforce-related programming.