This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.
Mobile apps are providing information on the go for a host of subjects today. Now, community colleges are getting in on the technology action, with their very own apps designed just for their students and faculty. Whether you are looking for information about extracurricular activities available on campus or where to go for financial aid assistance, these apps are ready to get you the information you need in a flash, no matter where you might be. Check out how some community colleges across the country are using technology to make campus life easier for their student body.
The original app-launch accounts below are retained as historical examples. Brief 2026 updates identify current services; references to MOX, Blackboard Mobile Learn, and iTunes describe the earlier offerings.
Two Mobile Apps Available to Montgomery County Community College Students
Montgomery County Community College students had their campus in the palms of their hands, quite literally, with two new mobile apps available. According to a report at the Upper Moreland-Willow Grove Patch, the school featured MOX, an application by Datatel’s Mobile Access that offered a wealth of information about the college. The app included general information about both the Blue Bell and Pottstown campuses, including current campus events, contact information for school administrators, class schedules and locations, and even overdue library books. The app was linked to the campus portal, allowing users to sign in with their usual MC3 username and password. Information from the portal that was also included in the app gave students access to important information from anywhere on campus. At the time, the report described Montgomery County as the only college in Pennsylvania to offer this app to students and community members.
Montgomery County also had a second app available; since summer, students had enjoyed free access to Blackboard Mobile Learn, which provided information about grades, assignments, and discussion boards. While the first app put students in touch with general campus information and happenings, the Blackboard app was more geared toward enhancing student success in the classroom.
“The Blackboard app is primarily used by students who are currently enrolled in credit classes,” Celeste Ward, vice president for information technologies at Montgomery County, told the Patch. “The mobile app enables students to view assignments, grades, discussions, and announcements on their smartphones. They can also respond to discussions and assignments to the extent that they are comfortable doing so on the phone. Faculty members use the app to keep up with student questions and discussion posts for their classes.”
The apps have been a hit with students. Joshua Schwartz, a student representative on the college’s Information Technology All-College Committee, told the Patch,
As a student who is constantly on the go, I rely on my cellphone as a primary source of communication, especially when taking multiple courses. The Blackboard Mobile Learn app has made it possible to check in on discussion boards, find out when assignments are due, and even check my grades for a class. The new mobile app has definitely kept me in the loop while I’m on the go.”
For 2026, Montgomery County Community College lists Montco Connect and Canvas among its mobile apps. Montco Connect provides college communications and access to campus systems, while the Canvas student app provides course materials, grades, and due dates on Android and iOS devices.
Orange County Schools Add App with GPS
Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College students had GPS capabilities at their fingertips with a new app created just for them. According to the Orange County Register, the free app offered maps of both the Irvine and Mission Viejo campuses, as well as a directory of professors’ phone numbers, class schedules, and campus events. The app also included a Blackboard Mobile Learn tile that allowed students to log into their own portal to view assignments and grades and join in on discussion groups.
“It’s a whole new level of service we can offer our students,” Jim Gaston, associate information technology director for the South Orange County Community College District, told the Register. The schools were also working on mobile websites, so students could access the school sites from any location.
For 2026, Irvine Valley College directs students to Canvas for coursework and MySite for registration, schedules, and academic records. Saddleback College also provides Canvas student support. These current services should be distinguished from the original GPS app and its Blackboard features.
Grand Rapids Community College Planning to Bring Real-Time Information to Students
Grand Rapids Community College was already on the cutting edge of technology, bringing the free Blackboard app to students who wanted to access their personal academic information. However, this college was looking to take the process even further by providing an app with real-time information that would make navigating the sometimes confusing maze of a college campus a bit more efficient. According to a report at mlive.com, school spokesman Derek Devries had announced plans by the college to offer students up-to-the-minute information on available parking spots in the campus garage and current wait times for student shuttles. Devries said this particular design was unique to Grand Rapids Community College at that time, but once the app was up and running, other schools might be able to implement a similar design in their own apps.
For 2026, Grand Rapids Community College provides instructions for downloading Canvas Student and Canvas Teacher mobile applications. The parking and shuttle features described above were proposed in the original report; that historical proposal does not establish their availability today.
Bunker Hill App Available Now for Online Students
Bunker Hill Community College was another campus teaming up with iTunes to offer an app to students. The Bunker Hill app was specifically designed for online and distance students with features like student testimonials, college readiness assessments, and the Blackboard app. The app was primarily used by current students and faculty at Bunker Hill but could prove quite useful to new enrollees as well, according to the Dirk Weiss website.
For 2026, Bunker Hill Community College reports that all summer 2026 courses moved to Canvas. Students access Canvas through the college’s OneLogin portal using their BHCC username and password. This replaces the original article’s Blackboard-era description of current course access.
Everyone seems to be going mobile today, and community colleges are no exception. Known for their ability to appeal to students of all ages, these schools are now using mobile apps to make the education process even easier and more efficient. Talk to your community college to find out whether mobile apps are available that could enhance your own college experience.
