During the 2026-2027 academic year, Anoka Technical College will celebrate its 60th anniversary.
Though much has changed since 1967, the college’s focus on career-ready training and meaningful faculty mentorship remains the same. That commitment to excellence has led to steady enrollment increases over the past decade and recognition from the Aspen Institute as one of the nation’s Top 200 Community Colleges.
Selected Historical Highlights
The college has gone by many names over the years. Originally called Anoka Technical Education Center, the name was changed to Anoka Area Vocational Technical School soon after opening. The school was then renamed Anoka-Hennepin Vocational Technical Institute. In 1971, the name changed to Anoka-Hennepin Area Vocational Technical Institute, or AVTI. Then in 1987, a mandate from the State Board of Technical Colleges changed the name to Anoka Technical Institution. In 1989, the college became Anoka Technical College, under a legislative mandate. It was renamed Anoka-Hennepin Technical College in 1992, before the name changed back to what it is today.
1990: An expansion project added 28,000 square feet to the college campus.
2025: College named Aspen Top 200 Community College. The Aspen Institute named Anoka Technical College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.
View more events from the college's history on our interactive timeline