It was founded as a private, non-profit institution to provide affordable, local access to higher education during the economic downturn preceding the Great Depression.

[10] Reconstruction of the Gibbs and Clearwater campuses included LEED Gold Certified buildings, marking the first such certification for higher education facilities in Pinellas County.

These libraries provide access to print and electronic resources, including books, academic journals, streaming media, and research databases.

[12] Notable SPC alumni include U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis; Henry Lyons, former president of the National Baptist Convention; Jim King, former president of the Florida Senate; Frank Wren, former general manager of the Atlanta Braves; Bob Carroll Jr., creator of I Love Lucy; astronaut Nicole P. Stott; and musician Jim Morrison, who attended SPC briefly.

Additionally, SPC is partnered with the Combating Transnational Organized Crime Center of Excellence, offering training to support U.S. Department of Defense strategies.