Major renovations of existing buildings preceded the school's opening in the fall of 1982, an event that was attended by King Charles III, then Charles, Prince of Wales, as president of the United World Colleges at the time.

The school is currently led by Dr. Victoria Mora, born in Albuquerque, a mother as well as a former Dean of the Santa Fe campus of St. John's College.

In 1998, the school's endowment was significantly increased through the generosity of investment manager Shelby M.C.

Their initial gift of $45 million in 1998 was, at the time, the largest private donation ever made to international education.

[8] In 2010, UWC-USA was ranked a “Top Ten Program” by U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy.