Mercer County Community College, founded on a vibrant urban tradition to serve the citizens of New Jersey's capital county, welcomes students of all ages from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, abilities, interests, levels of education, and economic circumstances to a challenging and supportive educational environment. The college recognizes that students differ in the ways they learn and that learning should be a challenging and rewarding experience, made possible by qualified faculty and staff, coherent curricula, effective instructional methods, and a nurturing environment.

Mercer also responds to a broad array of community needs, sponsoring programs and services for employers, continuing education and training for the workforce, academic enrichment for youth, and cultural opportunities for people in the region.

The following goals guide the college's quest to fulfill its mission:

• To offer high-quality academic programs and support services for a broad, heterogeneous student population, including:
• associate degree programs consisting of first- and second-year courses that will transfer to four-year colleges and universities offering baccalaureate degrees;
• associate degree and certificate programs that prepare students for direct entry into occupations and careers;
• preparatory programs and courses to strengthen students' reading, writing, and quantitative skills;
• general education experiences for each student that incorporate the best traditions of higher learning while addressing the educational demands of modern society; and
• academic counseling, advising and tutoring to support identification and attainment of individual educational objectives.
• To offer a comprehensive array of high-quality continuing education courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, and services for community residents and area employers which fulfill their current and emerging needs for personal enrichment, professional advancement, training, and retraining.
• To support the personal and intellectual growth of all students, faculty, and staff in an environment that encourages mutual respect, free inquiry and expression, tolerance of divergent opinions, and responsible behavior.
• To encourage a climate of diversity that does not accept the subordination of an individual or group based on race, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, economic status, or sexual orientation.
• To maintain an open admissions policy, making educational programs accessible to all who can benefit and investing in special efforts to enroll students who otherwise might not aspire to higher education.
• To keep tuition, fees, and other charges affordable, and to develop and expand financial assistance to all eligible students.
• To encourage innovation in programs, services, and methods of instruction that will respond to community needs, improve student learning, and contribute to student achievement and success.
• To offer a diversified program of student services, activities, and events that build leadership skills, promote social and emotional growth, and develop the personal aspirations of participants.
• To offer activities, events, and programs which contribute to the civic, cultural and aesthetic life of the community.
• To foster cooperative relationships with other educational institutions, government agencies, community organizations, professional associations, and business and industry.
• To identify and implement appropriate technologies and methodologies to advance these goals.
• To evaluate the college's success in meeting these goals, employing a variety of measurement techniques and using the results of evaluations to improve institutional effectiveness.