Founded in 1936, Columbia College first offered high school completion programs to hundreds of students. In 1965 the college added university transfer courses to its offerings, and in the 1970s introduced the English as a Second Language Program to meet the needs of the increasing number of international students.

In 1985 Columbia College moved from downtown Vancouver to Burnaby, to a location near Metrotown Centre. Over the next twelve years, the college's programs expanded significantly; in particular, the College broadened its offerings in the areas of business and engineering. During this period Columbia College established its reputation as Canada's premier university-preparatory school for international students.[4]

In 1997 Columbia College returned to a downtown Vancouver location to share a new facility with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) at the corner of Seymour and Dunsmuir street. In this building (the BCIT Downtown Campus) the College was able to provide improved science laboratories and classrooms and expanded library facilities, as well as a refurbished Tutorial Centre.

In 2004, Columbia College became the first private institution in the province to award Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. Enrollment further increased and the requirements of the student population changed. The College now employs a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) to support students with immigration issues and questions.

In 2011, Columbia College celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding. This year also saw Columbia College start to recruit significant numbers of students from around the globe. While Columbia continued to recruit students in its traditional areas in East Asia, the college saw an influx of students from South Asia, the Middle East, and West Africa.