Named for Venezuelan writer Andrés Bello, UCAB was founded in October 1953 by the Society of Jesus (Episcopado Venezolano a la Compañía de Jesús).

In 2017 it was ranked as the fourth best and top private university in Venezuela.

[5] The university publications deal mainly with human rights issues[6] and cultural topics.

[7] In 2013 the university opened its new library with the goal of delivering state-of-the-art services to faculty and students, including its Cultural Center and Resources for Learning and Research.

[9] In 2016, UCAB law students took first place in the Spanish version of the International Criminal Court Moot Competition at The Hague.