Forty years ago, Collin County didn’t have a single college of its own. Local students commuted long hours to Dallas or Denton for higher education — until a group of community leaders decided to change that. Out of their grassroots effort came Collin College, formerly known as Collin County Community College District, which opened its doors in 1985 with just over a thousand students and a bold vision for local access to affordable education.
Today, the college serves tens of thousands across 11 campuses in McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Allen, Wylie, Farmersville, and Celina. What began as a small community experiment has evolved into an institution offering five bachelor’s degrees (nursing, applied technology in cybersecurity, construction management, clinical operations management, and software development), technical programs and even championship-level athletics — all while shaping the workforce and identity of one of Texas’s fastest-growing regions.
1985
Voters in Collin County approved the creation of the Collin County Community College District, electing a nine-member board of trustees and approving a $70 million bond issue for construction of the initial campus.
The first classes are offered at area high schools.
1986
The McKinney Campus opens.
1988
The Plano Campus opens, later including the athletic facilities as a base infrastructure for sports in the district.
Collin College women’s volleyball and men’s basketball play their first games in August and October, respectively.
1989
Collin College establishes a tennis team.
1992
In November, the first five Collin County Community College District Police Department officers are sworn in.
1995
In April, the college district launched its first website, ccccd.edu.
In July, the Frisco Campus is launched.
1997
In February, Collin College establishes a women’s softball team.
The fall semester marks the district’s first online courses.
1998
Gov. George W. Bush visited the college while campaigning for re-election as governor.
2003
The women’s tennis team wins first place at the North Central Texas College Fall Invitational in Gainesville, Texas.
2004
The college announces a new mascot: the Collin Cougar.
The men’s basketball team ranks No. 2 nationally.
2007
Collin County Community College rebrands its name to Collin College.
2010
In January, the Collin Higher Education Center opens in McKinney, serving as administrative offices and a hub for partnering universities.
2012
Collin College’s National Convergence Technology Center is awarded a $4.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
2013
The Plano Campus Library opens.
2016
A health sciences center opens on the McKinney Campus.
2017
Collin County voters approve a $600 million bond package to fund new campuses, safety upgrades and a district expansion.
2019
Collin College receives accreditation approval to offer its first bachelor’s degrees: Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity.
2020
The Technical Campus, located in Allen, and the Wylie Campus open.
2021
The Farmersville and Celina Campuses open.
2024
Collin College launches Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Collin College and the Collin College Academic Alliance is established with Texas State University and the University of Texas at Dallas.
