It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles (5,040 km2) covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties.

The main campus in Lancaster hosts the satellite location of California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley (CSUB-AV), where students can obtain bachelor's and master's degrees in select subjects.

In 1959, groundbreaking was held for a new college campus on 110 acres (45 ha) at Avenue K and 30th Street West, designed by the architect Henry L. Gogerty (1894-1990).

Plans call for creation of a full campus on 60 acres (24 ha) of land in southern Palmdale on 25th Street East, south of Avenue S. College officials are working toward a sustainable enrollment of 1,000 full-time equivalent students to qualify Palmdale for center status—a key step in developing a permanent campus.

Officials in April 2009 expressed their intent to submit an initial project proposal for a campus to the state in June 2010.