Atlantic Cape Community College is a public community college in Atlantic County and Cape May County in New Jersey. Atlantic Cape enrolls more than 6,000 students. Its main campuses are in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township in Atlantic County, Atlantic City, and Cape May Court House. Situated on in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, Atlantic Cape's Mays Landing Campus is west of Atlantic City's boardwalk, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and from New York City. The college offers more than 40 transfer and career degree programs as well as continuing education professional development and training services. It awards Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees. The college operates nationally recognized casino career and culinary arts programs. The college operates an extension center in Atlantic City and a full-service location in Cape May County. History In 1936, there were plans to open junior colleges – now known as community colleges – in Atlantic City, Camden, and Trenton, New Jersey, but this did not come to fruition due to lack of state funding. In the 1950s during the Post–World War II baby boom, there was a movement in the United States to increase the number of community colleges. In 1962, the New Jersey Legislature authorized the establishment and committed to funding such institutions in the state, after efforts of local freeholders, county superintendents, and citizen groups. The Citizens Centennial Committee on Adult Education for Atlantic City pursued a college for the area. After a study by local freeholders and educators, the New Jersey Department of Education approved the establishment of an Atlantic County community college in December 1963. On April 14, 1964, Atlantic Community College was officially organized, only the second community college in the state at the time. In September 1966, the college opened to students in a facility rented from Atlantic City High School. By 1967, there were over 1,000 enrolled students. In February 1968, the college was moved to the Mays Landing campus. By 1969, the number of enrolled students exceeded 2,000. In 1971, Atlantic Community College was first accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and it was most recently re-accredited in 2013. As of June 1974, the state of New Jersey had spent $1,964,933 on the college, and an additional $1,143,991 was spent using federal funds authorized by the Higher Education Act of