In 1946, the
University of Illinois opened extension centers in several Illinois towns to help meet the educational needs of World War II veterans. In Danville, the center was housed at
Danville High School under the direction of Principal R. M. Duffin. The centers were closed in the spring of 1949, and Danville School District 118 decided to continue teaching college classes using the name Danville Community College. Mary Miller, who had headed the DHS English department, led the new college. At that time the tuition rate was $5.00 per credit hour, with a $5.00 student and library fee. In 1951, the name was changed to Danville Junior College. In 1965, the college moved to buildings provided by the US government which had been part of the Veterans Administration on the southeast side of town; this provided the present-day campus. Local citizens raised money for the renovation of the buildings. In June 1966, the college separated from District 118 under the provisions of the Public Junior College Act and became an independent two-year area college under the control of the Board of Trustees of Junior College District No. 507. The name Danville Junior College was changed to Danville Area Community College on July 1, 1979. In September 2024, DACC president Stephen Nacco was suspended by the board of trustees pending possible firing. The following month, Nacco resigned, effective December 2024. Nacco later announced he was running to be on the board of trustees that previously voted to fire him but he was disqualified from running due to many issues with invalid signatures and non-existent voters.
Presidents • Mary Miller, 1946–1972 • William Langas, 1972–1979 • Joseph Borgen, 1979–1980 • Ronald Lingle, 1980–1989 • Harry Braun, 1989–1999 • Alice Jacobs, 1999–2016 • Stephen Nacco, 2016–2024 • Randy Fletcher, 2024–present ==Service area==