Lackawanna College's development into the premier community-oriented two-year college in Northeastern Pennsylvania parallels the development of the region. With the growth of the railroads in the 19th Century, demand for the clean-burning anthracite coal greatly expanded. As Scranton emerged as the hub of the nation's coal industry, the Scranton Business College was founded in 1894 to train administrative and fiscal managers and their support personnel.

The College began as a proprietary institution with a full academic program under the direction of H.D. Buck and A.R. Whitmore. John H. Seeley, a noted regional educator, purchased it in 1912. Seeley, who also owned the Lackawanna Business College, merged his two institutions into the Scranton Lackawanna Business College and built a new campus in the city's downtown.

The word "Business" was eventually dropped from the school's name as too restrictive and civil service courses were added to prepare students for governmental positions. The College met with continued success because of its ability to change with the times. With the coming of World War II, the school made a concerted effort to train women for positions in business and industry. After the war, the College adapted its programs once more to meet the needs of returning veterans.