In 1988, in accordance with new educational legislation, a university was founded based on the Valparaiso Business School (Escuela de Negocios de Valparaiso), an older institution for the professional teaching in business administration founded in 1953 by Adolfo Ibáñez Boggiano.

In the Chilean higher educational scheme, UAI is a private university accredited in the country by the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación (CNA) and internationally by AACSB and AMBA.

It is noted for being the first educational institution in Chile to offer the business administration career, as well as one of pioneers[dubious – discuss] in Latin America.

After the educational reform brought about by the military government, in the last years of the 1980 decade, Adolfo Ibáñez University was founded with the business school like central axis.

The Financial Times establishes this Indian institution in the 15th position among the whole globe,[4] in matters of post-graduate programs.

Until UCLA had his mind set up, the final competitors in consideration were three; Adolfo Ibañez Business School, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and the ITAM (Mexican's Institute).

The campus has a gym with machines and aerobics rooms, which each enrolled student is able to use via biometric log in.

The Presidente Errázuriz campus in the Las Condes section of northeast Santiago is dedicated mainly to postgraduate programs.

Nestled in a venerable residential neighborhood in Viña del Mar, the Recreo campus includes an inviting group of buildings whose architecture was designed to provide an optimal academic setting, with amphitheater-style classrooms and a central courtyard offering a stunning panorama of Viña del Mar and the Pacific Ocean.