The college was originally established in December 1965 when it was instituted by the Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges. BCC chose not to raise tuition in 2014.
Campuses
The main campus is located on of land at 777 Elsbree Street. There is a campus located in New Bedford in the Star Store Building located at 188 Union Street, and at 800 Purchase Street . There are also campuses in Attleboro located at 11 Field Road; Taunton located at the Silver City Galleria and a satellite campus in New Bedford located at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School. BCC also has a Center for Workforce and Community Education located at 1082 Davol St in Fall River. Prior to 2014 BCC held Taunton operations through day and night classes at Cohannet School and Benjamin A. Friedman Middle School, respectively. In 2014 it occupied the former Taunton Catholic Middle School in Taunton, which now houses a satellite campus of its own.
At the end of the 2010-11 year, Bristol Community College had an undergraduate population of 12,123 day and evening credit students, along with an additional 17,439 in noncredit enrollments. The average annual tuition and fees for in-state students was around $4,166, whereas the out-of-state students paid, on average, about $9,482 in total annual tuition and fees. The average cost for a 3 credit course is approximately $498, equivalent to about $166 per credit.
Athletics
The BCCathletic program was re-established in 2008. Under the guidance of Derek Viveiros as the athletic director, the college now competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association in five varsity sports: men’s and women's soccer in the fall, men's and women's basketball in the winter, and men’s golf in the spring. The current mascot is the "Bristol Bayhawk."
Early college
In 2014 BCC and B.M.C. Durfee High School were planning an agreement regarding early college classes.
Howard Tinberg, professor of English, the Carnegie Foundation's Outstanding Community College Professor of 2004.
William E. Kaufman, professor of philosophy, author of several theology books including Journeys: An Introductory Guide to Jewish Mysticism, The Case for God, A Question of Faith: An Atheist and a Rabbi Debate the Existence of God With Morton Shor and The Evolving God in Jewish Process Theology.
Dana Mohler-Faria, former BCC Assistant Dean of Administrative Services, current president of Bridgewater State College and the Special Advisor for Education to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.
