Although Tri-County Community College includes Graham County in its service area, TCEC does not.

TCEC opened in 2006 on the Tri-County Community College campus.

With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, TCEC was one of more than 40 North Carolina early colleges created to carry out former Governor Mike Easley's Learn and Earn Initiative.

[4] In July 2021, a new 66,000-square-foot building broke ground on 27 acres next to Tri-County Community College (TCCC).

[5] Alissa Cheek was tapped by then superintendent Jeana Y. Conley to be head of the project and became the school's first principal.