Salesian College is a Government recognized, minority educational institution of the Catholic Church, run by Salesians of Don Bosco, Kolkata Province where over 300 students do their regular B.A., B.Com & B.Sc studies under the North Bengal University. Salesian College, established in Shillong, in 1933, was shifted to Sonada, in 1938. It comes under section 2(f) and 12 (B) of UGC Act, 1956. In 1935, SCS received affiliation to the Calcutta University for I.A., and in1948 for B.A. Course in English, History and Latin followed by Economics in 1950. In 1962 its affiliation was transferred from Calcutta University as one of the founding colleges of NBU.

It was in 1970 and 1979 that SCS received affiliation for B.A. Honours Course in English and History respectively. Later on SCS introduced Education and Philosophy as B.A. subjects. In 2006 it received affiliation for Education Honours course.

The College opened a Computer Skills Department in 2002, offering the DIT and ADIT courses of C-DAC, Pune, the Computer Application Certificate Course of NBU in 2004. In 2005, Career oriented programmes of Communicative English and Tourism & Travel Management have been initiated followed by Certificate course in Music from June 2007. SCS is also recognized as an IGNOU study centre from May 2005 offering courses in B.A., B.Com., CIC and CLP.