St. Joseph's College is a prestigious educational institution with a rich history. The college was established in 2009 and was affiliated with the University of Mysore, one of the premier universities in Karnataka till the Academic Year 2022-23.However, the St. Joseph's Institutions in Hassan have a much older legacy, dating back to 1957. This makes it one of the oldest educational institutions in Hassan, located in the heart of the city.

The college is managed by the Jesuits, who are renowned worldwide for their commitment to providing quality education. Apart from St. Joseph's College, they also run other premier educational institutions in India, such as St Joseph's University in Bengaluru,Loyola College in Chennai, St. Xavier's College in Calcutta and Mumbai, Xavier University in Calcutta, and Xavier University in Bhubaneswar and St Joseph's College of Commerce in Bengaluru.

The Department of Commerce was established in 2009, shortly after the college's inception, while the Department of Business Management was established in the subsequent year, 2010.

Starting from the academic year 2023-24, there has been a change in affiliation, and now the college is affiliated with Hassan University. This move may have been taken to align the college more closely with the local educational ecosystem.

Additionally, from the academic year 2023-24, the college has introduced the Department of Computer Science. This new department is expected to offer modern and relevant education in the field of computer science to the students of the college.