[3] Founded in 1966 for the purpose of providing education opportunities for the surrounding desert communities and families stationed at the 29 Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, the college held its first courses in classrooms at the 29 Palms High School campus during the fall, 1967 semester.

In 2019 Copper Mountain College joined the newly formed Inland Empire Athletic Conference.

[5] The current head coach for women's basketball is Ken Simonds,[6] assisted by Johnette Brown.

The statewide Student Senate is authorized by law "to advocate before the Legislature and other state and local governmental entities".

In November 2015, CMC opened Bud and Betty's Place for Veterans as a center for Students that have served in the armed forces.