Massachusetts's campuses and the stories they hold.
The Story
STCC holds its classes in the old buildings of the Springfield Armory, the federal arsenal where U.S. military rifles were designed and built for nearly two centuries. The college shares the hilltop with a National Park Service museum, and in the 2000s it turned the Armory's long brick storehouse into its learning commons. Students come for nursing and the health professions, photonics, cybersecurity, trades and transfer degrees.
About this site
Springfield Technical Community College is a college & university in Springfield, Hampden County. It is one of 8 colleges & universities documented in Hampden County, among 3,815 historic sites cataloged across the county on MassRoam.
The site sits at 42.1082, -72.5807 near Springfield. The nearest cataloged historic site is Springfield Armory - Armory Green (landmark), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Springfield Armory - Armory Square, Springfield Technical Community College - Scibelli Hall, and Springfield Technical Community College - Deliso Hall.
This record is drawn from MassRoam. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
What makes Springfield Technical Community College different
The Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons is the Armory's old Long Storehouse, Building 19, rebuilt as an energy-efficient student hub. It was named at its groundbreaking on October 18, 2016. stcc.edu
In 1950, long before the Armory closed, trade school principal Edmond Garvey drove past it and predicted, "Some day that will be a college." stcc.edu
STCC's Optics and Photonics Technology program, started in 1976, is the only degree-granting program of its kind in New England. en.wikipedia.org
The SIMs Medical Center, a simulated hospital for training health students, is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. The college calls that rare for a community college. stcc.edu
STCC played a key role in founding the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship in 2002. en.wikipedia.org
The campus is also home to the Western Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Academy, and the STCC Technology Park across the street fills more former Armory land. en.wikipedia.org
The college runs its own radio station, WTCC 90.7 FM. en.wikipedia.org
Springfield Technical Community College was founded in 1967 and is the only technical community college in Massachusetts. It occupies the historic grounds of the former Springfield Armory, the U.S. arsenal established in 1794 that is now partly a National Historic Site, and several of the college's buildings are repurposed 19th-century armory structures. The college offers technical, health, and career programs to the Greater Springfield region.
The idea predates the college. In 1950 Edmond P. Garvey, principal of Springfield's Trade High School, drove a new teacher past the Armory and told her that someday it would be a college. In 1964 he opened the Springfield Technical Institute, a two-year program in an annex of his school, and it soon had about 400 students and no room for more. When the Defense Department moved to close the Armory, Mayor Charles V. Ryan, industrialist Joseph J. Deliso Sr. and state Rep. Anthony Scibelli worked to turn the site into a college; Deliso took the case to Governor John Volpe and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. After the Armory closed in the late 1960s, the college took over most of its 55 acres. The National Park Service kept about 20 acres, including the main arsenal and museum.
Andrew M. Scibelli, a biology professor who became president in 1983, led STCC for 21 years. He built up its program list, put up the seven-story Scibelli Hall, and started health clinics run by students. Ira Rubenzahl (2004–2016) expanded outreach to Springfield's Black and Latino communities. STCC is now a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, and the Armory's Building 19 was rebuilt as the learning commons that bears his name.
Under John B. Cook (2016–2026), STCC moved its health programs into Scibelli Hall, opened a cybersecurity center downtown, and launched an open-admission health science degree that now enrolls more than 1,000 students. Massachusetts's free community college programs brought a rebound in enrollment. In July 2026 Jennifer Cournoyer became STCC's seventh president and the first woman to lead it.
STCC offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates. Most fall into health and patient simulation, engineering and technology, business and IT, and liberal arts transfer. Many students go on to four-year schools, including through a 3+1 nursing bachelor's with Westfield State University. Others move straight into regional jobs in health care, manufacturing and the trades.
Known for
Health Science and nursing
An open-admission Health Science degree, started in 2018 with built-in certifications, now enrolls more than 1,000 students. STCC also offers a 12-month accelerated nursing program and a 3+1 bachelor's in nursing with Westfield State.
Known for
Patient simulation
Health students train in the SIMs Medical Center, which the college describes as the largest simulated patient array in the Northeast. It is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
Known for
Optics and Photonics (Laser Optics Technology)
This is New England's only degree-granting optics and photonics technician program, offered since 1976. It works with AIM Photonics to train technicians for the region's photonics industry.
Known for
Cybersecurity
In 2024 STCC opened the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in downtown Springfield to train cyber defenders and serve local organizations.
All degree programs at Springfield Technical Community College (3)
Health and Patient Simulation
Nursing, dental hygiene, surgical technology, respiratory care, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technology, diagnostic medical sonography and health science · AS, Certificate
Engineering and technology
Laser optics technology, advanced manufacturing technology, electrical engineering technology, computer systems engineering technology, energy systems technology and architectural design · AS, Certificate
Business, IT and liberal arts
Business transfer, computer science, IT security, criminal justice, fire protection and safety technology, digital media production, interactive media and animation, fine arts, and liberal arts transfer · AA, AS, Certificate
This Is STCC · Springfield Technical Community CollegeCybersecurity Unlocked: Discoveries and Journeys · Springfield Technical Community CollegeDr. Megas hires STCC graduates · Springfield Technical Community CollegeMission Moment: Carol Caulton '76, Nursing Alumna · Springfield Technical Community College
Springfield Technical Community College: questions & answers
Is STCC on the Springfield Armory grounds?
Yes. The college occupies about 35 acres of the former Springfield Armory and uses many of its 19th-century buildings. The National Park Service runs the Armory museum on the remaining 20 acres next door.
What is STCC known for?
Hands-on technical and health programs, such as nursing, health science, surgical technology, dental hygiene, laser optics and photonics, cybersecurity and engineering technology. It also offers transfer degrees to four-year colleges.
Is STCC free?
Many Massachusetts residents can attend tuition-free through the state's MassReconnect and MassEducate programs. Check STCC's free college page for eligibility.
How many students attend STCC?
NCES counted 5,447 credit students in Fall 2024, all undergraduates.
Who is the president of STCC?
Jennifer Cournoyer, who took office in July 2026 as STCC's seventh president and the first woman to lead the college.
Does STCC have sports teams?
Yes. The STCC Rams play men's and women's basketball, soccer and wrestling in NJCAA Region XXI. Women's soccer won a national title in 2006.
Can I visit the Springfield Armory museum at STCC?
Yes. The Springfield Armory National Historic Site, run by the National Park Service, is next to the college and open to the public. Check nps.gov/spar for hours.
Can STCC credits transfer?
Yes. STCC has transfer pathways to Massachusetts public universities, including a 3+1 nursing bachelor's with Westfield State, and it belongs to the Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield.
Walk Springfield Technical Community College with MassRoam
The self-guided Springfield Technical Community College campus tour tells the story of each landmark as you reach it (0.3 mi · walking · ~38m · 4 stops). It's included with MassRoam+, alongside 82,000+ Massachusetts historic sites on one live map.
Massachusetts