New River Community and Technical College is one of West Virginia's youngest educational institutions. It was created on July 1, 2003, by the West Virginia Legislature as part of changes intended to provide autonomy for the state's community colleges. Such colleges had traditionally been administered by host institutions, Bluefield State College in this case. Senate Bill 448, passed by the state legislature in 2004, made New River Community and Technical College essentially independent of Bluefield State.

New River absorbed the community college functions of Bluefield State College, as well as Glenville State College's community college campus at Summersville. Initially accredited as a component of Bluefield State, New River earned its own accreditation in 2005. Accreditation was granted again in 2007.

In addition to the headquarters in Beckley, the college has campuses in Lewisburg, Princeton, and Summersville. The college also offers programs at a technology center in Ghent. The college serves Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, and Webster counties. New River Community and Technical College offers numerous associate degrees, several certificates, and customized workforce training. The college's third president, Dr. L. Marshall Washington, began serving in March 2013. In fall 2011, headcount enrollment was 3,168.

New River Community and Technical College website