MACC was founded in 1927 as Moberly Junior College as a part of the Moberly Public School system. Temporary facilities housed the classes until 1931 when a permanent building was constructed on 29 acres, which would today be the current MACC campus. The college experienced rapid growth in the 1970s and 1980s, especially after a public vote led to the establishment of a community college district encompassing a 16-county area in northern and central Missouri. It was during this time period MACC gained accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.