The communities of Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council established the college in 1963 as an evening school for adult higher education.

Sapir was granted independent academic accreditation from the Council for Higher Education in 1998.

The college awards Bachelor's degrees in Communication, Cinema and Television, Software Systems, Marketing, Administration and Public Policy, Industrial Management, Law, Human Resources Management, Cultural Studies, Logistics, Economics, and Social Work, as well as a multidisciplinary B.A.

The college also awards a Master of Arts degree in Administration and Public Policy and in Cultural Studies.

The college also offers study in further five subjects (with degrees awarded by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba), and provides training for engineering technicians.