A groundbreaking ceremony in June 1969 began construction on 119 acres (0.48 km2) in the heart of the planned community of Columbia that, at the time, was just beginning to take shape.

[14] In September 2015, then-First Lady Michelle Obama visited HCC and attended a panel hosted by the magazine Essence to kick off its second annual college tour that encouraged high school students to continue their education when they graduate as part of Obama's education initiative Reach Higher.

[20] In 2003, a new instructional building was completed, the Mary Ellen Duncan Hall for English, Languages & Business, which includes a landscaped area now known as The Quad.

The facility replaces 260 parking spots to provide labs focused on Howard County Economic Development Agency initiatives including 3D printing and cybersecurity.

[22] The SET Building opened for classes in the summer of 2017, providing dedicated laboratories, a rooftop telescope observation area, and more than 1,000 total classroom seats.

[23][24] In 2023, the college announced an $11 million campaign to create a new campus-based workforce development and skilled trades center, the first in Howard County.

[25] In 2024, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America opened a new location in the college campus, aided by county executive Calvin Ball.