South College, formerly Knoxville Business College, has been a part of the fabric of downtown Knoxville since 1882 when Jacob T. Johnson started a branch of Nashville Business College in Knoxville, Tennessee and later renamed it Knoxville Business College. In 1900, KBC occupied part of the public library building on the corner of Gay and Vine where it boasted of a commercial department equipped with offices for the actual transaction of business in mercantile and banking lines. In 1910, KBC occupied the Cherokee Building on the corner of Church and Prince across from what is now known as Market Square. In the 1940's, KBC moved to 209 West Church - commonly referred to as the Keyhole Building - where it remained until the 1980's when it moved to North Fifth Avenue. In 2005, the institution relocated its main campus to a larger, newly renovated facility which is located on Hayfield Road. Then in 2006, the Hayfield Road campus was changed to a Learning Site as the institution completed its new main campus facility on Lonas Road.

Throughout its history South College has endeavored to meet the demands of the East Tennessee business community. Under the direction of the current administration, (1989- present), the college has evolutionized its curriculum and facilities. The college no longer limits its course offerings to accounting, business, and computer related fields but also offers diversified programs in fields such as paralegal and legal studies, criminal justice, medical assisting, physical therapist assistant, nursing, radiography, nuclear medicine, pharmaceutical science, and elementary education. Programs are offered at varying degree levels.

South College is proud of its heritage rooted in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and accepts the challenges of the twenty-first century.