[6] It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities but was placed on "show cause" status in early 2023 due to concerns about its board of trustees.

The school was established during the Great Depression in 1933 as "Coeur d'Alene Junior College," with classes held at City Hall.

[7][8] The college's board of trustees has engaged in actions that have drawn national attention on multiple occasions.

[9][10] In 2021, the board fired Rick MacLennan, the college president, without cause, later settling a lawsuit with him for nearly $500,000.

[17] Its catchment area includes all of the counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone.