Residents of Hancock, Forrest, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Marion, and Pearl River counties are in the college's service area.

The entire boarding high school was located in one three-story building erected on 20 acres (81,000 m2) of land on the edge of the county's seat, Poplarville.

Pearl River also won the 2004 National Championship of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with the help of three NJCAA All-Americans, including wide receiver Larry Brackins, who was selected 155th overall by the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2005 NFL draft; quarterback Jimmy Oliver, and offensive lineman Matt Lott.

Brackins was a member of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League, and the practice squad for the NFL New York Jets.

While former Wildcat receiver Donavan Morgan played with the AFL's Chicago Rush franchise after brief NFL stints with the New York Jets, Houston Texans, and Buffalo Bills.

Oliver guided the Wildcats to their 2004 and 2005 titles and earned NJCAA "Offensive Player of the Year" honors both seasons, including All-American accolades.

Pearl River won four MACJC state championships during the 2003-2004 school year in football, men's basketball, women's soccer, and baseball.