 From 1934 to 1969, it was called Theodore Herzl Junior College, and located in the North Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago's West Side.In 1969, the school was renamed in honor of civil rights advocate and orator Malcolm X.

Malcolm X College works with healthcare and industry partners to provide students with career-oriented education in the healthcare field.The school's main corporate partner is Rush University Medical Center, which helps the school write curriculum, teach, and place students in jobs.