It is on the city's eastern boundary, on 160 acres (650,000 m2) of land belonging to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

In the fall of 1969 SCC began holding night classes at Scottsdale High School, and on September 21, 1969, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Bureau of Indian Affairs leased 160 acres of land at Chaparral and Pima Roads for 99 years.

In August 1970, SCC held its first classes at its permanent location; several temporary wooden barracks were used as classroom space while construction began on the campus.

[1] In 1977 the performing arts center opened, designed by Phoenix architects Guirey, Srnka Arnold & Sprinkle.

[1] The Applied Sciences Building opened in 1998, designed by local architect Doug Sydnor; it is home to The Artichoke Grill.