In 1962, the voters of Ventura County authorized the formation of a community college district separate from any other public school entity.

In 1974, the college began offering classes in Fillmore to serve the Santa Clara River Valley's predominantly Hispanic population.

In addition to the East Campus, Ventura College currently utilizes classrooms at Fillmore High School, and occasionally uses the facilities at other community locations.

Ventura County voters went to the polls in March 2002 and voted to authorize a $356 million general obligation bond to renovate and expand all three campuses and the district training facilities for police, fire, and sheriff's officers.

The college's Community Education program offers hundreds of classes three times a year to those interested in learning about music, dance, writing, fitness, cooking, financial planning, languages and a myriad of other topics in a non-competitive, not-for-credit environment.

Ventura College also provides a MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program, which serves first generation, low income students who major in STEM.