Orange County Community College

Orange County Community College stands as a beacon of access and innovation, proud to be the first county-sponsored community college within the extensive SUNY system. Guided by its inspiring motto, "If you have the dream, we have the way!", the college has a rich history of fostering educational opportunities for students in the Hudson Valley and beyond. For over seven decades, it has served as a cornerstone of public higher education, dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.

The college's origins trace back to a critical need for higher education on the west side of the Hudson River, where only two colleges existed as late as 1945. Recognizing this gap, research commenced in 1948 to establish a local public college. The vision materialized in 1950 when Mrs. Christine Morrison generously donated the historic Webb Horton House and its expansive property in Middletown, providing the foundational home for what would become Orange County Community College. This act of philanthropy laid the groundwork for a new era of educational accessibility in the region.

Opening its doors to 160 students in 1950, Orange County Community College immediately distinguished itself. It made history not only as SUNY's inaugural county-sponsored community college but also as the first community college in the entire nation to offer a groundbreaking two-year nursing degree program. This pioneering spirit in healthcare education has defined a significant part of its legacy. From its humble beginnings with Morrison and Horton Halls on 14 acres, the college has flourished, now boasting 12 buildings at its Middletown campus and an additional two at its Newburgh campus, continuously adapting and expanding to meet the evolving needs of its diverse student body.