MCCC was founded in 1964 and is the only higher education institution in the county.

Classes were initially held at the Ida Public Schools in the fall of 1965.

Each of the buildings on the main campus are commonly referred to by a letter abbreviation.

In 1991, MCCC built the Whitman Center about 15 miles (24 km) south in Temperance, Bedford Township to better serve the growing population in the southern portion of the county, as well as providing a closer facility for those in Toledo, Ohio.

The Whitman Center offers the same services as the main campus, such as offices and a bookstore, but with limited space and class offerings since the complex consists of only one building with eight classrooms and one computer lab.