Founded in 1962, NCCC is sponsored by Niagara County and offers associate degrees as part of the State University of New York system.

NCCC operates the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute as a remote campus within the former Rainbow Centre Factory Outlet in downtown Niagara Falls, New York.

The college's first campus opened on September 30, 1963 within a former Nabisco factory at 430 Buffalo Avenue in downtown Niagara Falls, New York.

It was built on 287 acres (1.16 km2) of semi-wooded land, with eight interconnected buildings:[4] The school's library was named in honor of philanthropist Henrietta Grigg-Lewis on November 15, 2005 after her foundation donated $1 million for modernizing the facility.

[12] Eric Knuutila has coached wrestling at the college since 1973, producing four national champions including Rashad Evans.