Mountainland Applied Technology College (MATC) was originally established as Mountainland Applied Technology Center in November 1989 under the guidance of the Mountainland Region Vocational and Technical Education Coordinating Committee (VTECC). VTECC consisted of the superintendents of the seven public school districts, the president of the state higher education institution and several private sector employers serving Mountainland Region ( Summit, Utah, and Wasatch counties).

VTECC and state direction from both the Utah State Board of Education and Utah State Board of Regents during the 1989-2001 period charged MATC with providing competency-based vocational and technical training for both high school and adult students, preparing them with necessary skills to enter the workforce.

Administrative functions during the first twelve years of operation were provided through an MATC director and staff with assistance from (then) Utah Valley Community College (UVCC) and the school districts. The Center's original function was to organize a regional service model incorporating short-term job training functions previously conducted by UVCC, the school districts, other governmental entities, and the community at large.

Initial funding for MATC was provided through state appropriations, state and federal grants, and local resources. Since its inception, MATC has administered and operated the state-funded Short Term Intensive Training and Custom Fit programs for Mountainland Region. In 1992, an ongoing funding source was appropriated by the Utah State Legislature and allocated to MATC through both the State Board of Education and State Board of Regents. Between 1992 and 2001, MATC was designated by the State as an Applied Technology Center Service Region (ATCSR).

Following years of controversy and studies over how MATC and similar regional applied technology service providers should be governed, the Utah State Legislature, in special session, passed House Bill 1003 on June 20, 2001 creating the statewide Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT). The bill was signed into law by the Governor on July 5, 2001. On September 1, 2001 MATC officially became Mountainland Applied Technology College and an affiliate campus of UCAT.

As directed by the new law, the Mountainland Applied Technology College Board of Directors was immediately established to provide regional oversight of MATC operations. A campus president was appointed as the chief administrative officer and to serve as chief executive officer to the Board of Directors. In February 2003, MATC applied for and was granted candidacy accreditation status by the Council on Occupational Education.  In April, 2006 the Council conducted a site visit of MATC and in June 2006 awarded full accreditation to the College.

Since becoming part of UCAT, MATC has established numerous programs granting certificates and two programs granting Associate of Applied Technology (AAT) degrees. MATC awards certificates of skill competency, proficiency, and completion and in January 2004 awarded its first AAT degree.

The fifth annual Utah College of Applied Technology Report published in October 2006 describes MATC as one of Utah's fastest growing UCAT campuses. During the most recently completed fiscal year, MATC provided quality career and technical education and training to over 6,500 students and logged more than 600,000 student membership hours.