Walk onto the St. Louis CC Meramec campus on a Tuesday morning and you’ll notice something immediately. It doesn’t feel like a "commuter school" anymore. For years, the knock on community colleges was that they were basically high schools with ashtrays (back when people smoked) or just cold, utilitarian places where you took your English 101 and bolted for the parking lot.
That’s dead.
Honestly, if you haven’t been to the Kirkwood campus lately, you probably wouldn’t even recognize the "front door." Thanks to a massive influx of cash from Proposition R, the place has been gutted and reborn. We’re talking nearly $80 million in brand-new buildings that just opened up. It's a vibe shift.
The $77 Million Face-Lift You Haven't Seen
Most people still think of Meramec as those sprawling, low-slung brick buildings from the 60s. And yeah, those are still there, but the new Emerging Technology Center and the Financial Services Education Center have changed the skyline.
The Emerging Technology Center is a 78,000-square-foot beast. It’s got a green roof terrace. Think about that. You can literally study for a midterm while standing on a roof covered in plants. It’s not just for looks, though; it houses the cannabis and hemp production labs, which is a wild sentence to write about a Missouri college, but here we are. The industry is exploding, and Meramec jumped right in.
Then you’ve got the Financial Services building. This is basically the new "one-stop shop" for students. You remember how it used to be? You’d have to hike across three different buildings just to find out why your financial aid hadn't hit yet. Now, advising, enrollment, and business services are all under one roof. It’s efficient. Sorta makes you wonder why it took forty years to figure that out.
Why the "Thirteenth Grade" Label is Total BS
There’s this lingering snobbery in St. Louis about "going to the MAC." People treat it like a consolation prize.
👉 See also: Why Woodlawn Cemetery West Palm Beach is the Most Interesting Place You Haven't Visited
But look at the math. For the 2025-2026 academic year, if you live in-district (St. Louis City or County), you’re paying $122 per credit hour. Compare that to a private four-year university where you might pay $1,500 for that same credit hour. You’re sitting in the same uncomfortable chairs, reading the same textbook, learning the same calculus.
But at Meramec, you’re not $40,000 in debt by sophomore year.
What they're actually teaching
It’s not just "underwater basket weaving." The programs at Meramec are weirdly specific and high-end now.
- Graphic Communications: They have a digital media lab that rival's some of the local ad agencies.
- Horticulture: This is legendary. They have a state-of-the-art greenhouse that just opened alongside the new tech center.
- Interior Design: It’s one of the few accredited programs in the region.
- Nursing: It’s brutal to get into, but if you do, you’re basically guaranteed a job at BJC or Mercy before you even graduate.
The Notable Alumni You Didn't Realize Went Here
You ever watch The Big Lebowski or Roseanne? John Goodman is a Meramec guy. He played football there before he became, well, John Goodman.
It’s not just actors. David Freese—the guy who saved the 2011 World Series for the Cardinals—played at Meramec. So did Kent Hrbek. The baseball program here has historically been a factory for the MLB.
There’s a nuance to the "Meramec experience" that people miss. It’s a melting pot. You’ll have a 19-year-old kid who’s terrified of failing their first college class sitting next to a 45-year-old mom who’s retraining because her corporate job got outsourced. It’s a gritty, real-world energy that you don’t get at a fancy private school where everyone is the same age and has the same North Face jacket.
The Secret Life of Campus (Beyond the Classroom)
If you just go to class and leave, you’re doing it wrong. Meramec has a Dungeons & Dragons club. They have a Clay Club. They have a student newspaper, The Montage, that regularly mops the floor with other colleges at state awards.
The campus itself is actually kinda beautiful in a "park-like" way. It’s tucked into a residential part of Kirkwood, so it feels secluded. Students hang out by the fountain or in the new "maker space" where you can actually use 3D printers and high-end tech for your own projects.
What No One Tells You About Transferring
Here is the "insider" secret: Missouri has something called the CORE 42.
Basically, it’s a law that says if you finish your general education at a community college like Meramec, any public four-year school in Missouri has to accept those credits as a block. No more "this class doesn't count" nonsense. You can do two years at Meramec, save $30,000, and then walk into Mizzou or Missouri State as a junior.
It’s a loophole for the middle class. Use it.
How to Actually Succeed at St. Louis CC Meramec
If you’re thinking about enrolling, don't just wing it. The school is big enough that you can get lost in the shuffle if you don't speak up.
- Visit the Academic Success and Tutoring space. It’s in the new Emerging Technology Center. It’s free. If you’re struggling with math, go there. They’re paid to help you.
- Apply for scholarships early. Everyone thinks scholarships are only for 4.0 students. At Meramec, there are piles of money for "non-traditional" students, specific majors, and even just being a resident of a certain area.
- Get the U-Pass. Your tuition includes a pass for the Metro. Use it. Parking on campus can be a nightmare during the first two weeks of the semester anyway.
- Talk to your instructors. Most of them aren't "teaching assistants" or grad students like at big universities. They are actual professors who chose to teach at a community college because they actually like teaching, not just research.
The reality is that St. Louis CC Meramec is currently in its "renaissance era." The new buildings are shiny, the tech is updated, and the stigma is fading. It’s not the "fallback" option anymore; for a lot of smart people, it's the first choice.
👉 See also: Why Flag at Half Mast Protocols Still Confuse Everyone
Next Steps for You:
Check your residency status. If you live in St. Louis City or County, you qualify for the lowest tuition rate. Head over to the new Financial Services Education Center on the east side of campus to get your ID and talk to an advisor about the CORE 42 transfer track.