Founded in 1946 as Belleville Junior College, the institution was created to meet the post-World War II demand for higher education. Through the early 1960s, the college operated under the local high school district before a pivotal shift toward independence in 1966 when area voters approved the creation of Class I Belleville Junior College District 522 following the passage of the Illinois Junior College Act the prior year. On July 1, 1967, the college became Belleville Area College (BAC).

The college continued to grow with the completion of the first phase of the Belleville Campus in 1971, along with the launch of Programs and Services for Older Persons (PSOP) in 1973.

Significant regional expansion occurred in the 1980s. The Granite City Center opened in 1983, followed by the Red Bud Center in 1985. Both locations received official campus status from the Illinois Community College Board in July 1985, strengthening the college’s regional presence.

On January 1, 2000, the institution was renamed Southwestern Illinois College, reflecting its expanded reach and overall mission within the region. In 2006, the Granite City Campus became the Sam Wolf Granite City Campus named after former state lawmaker and trustee, Sam Wolf.

Throughout its history, the college has served as an affordable pathway for students transferring to four-year universities, supported nontraditional learners balancing work and family, and fostered campus life through athletics and community engagement.

As SWIC celebrates 80 Years Strong, it honors its past and reaffirms its commitment to educational opportunities for the future.