Rutherford College, which was founded as the Owl Hollow School in 1853 in Burke County (and gave its name to Rutherford College, North Carolina); and the Brevard Institute, a high school inaugurated in 1895 by Asheville businessman Fitch Taylor and his wife, Sarah.

[2][3] The Brevard College Stone Fence and Gate was erected by the Works Progress Administration in 1936-1937 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

In addition to its print and digital collections, it provides historical information on Transylvania County,[6] study accommodations for group or individual work in public or private space, classrooms for library instruction, and interlibrary loan privileges.

The Tornados previously competed in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) of the NCAA Division II ranks from 2007–08 to 2016–17; as an NCAA D-II Independent during the 2006–07 school year; and in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2000–01 to 2005–06.

Disc golf is also a popular leisure activity on campus; Brevard competes in several annual tournaments with other local colleges.